Man with 93 convictions charged with attempted homicide after allegedly trying to set police officer on fire

Staff report

Updated at 4:45 p.m. with pre-trial detention information.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Henry S. Chambers Jr., 66, was arrested yesterday morning for allegedly throwing alcohol on two police officers and then using a lighter to try to set one of them on fire; he has been charged with attempted homicide.

At about 7:55 a.m. on July 8, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to a call about a man who seemed to be having a mental breakdown in the 400 block of West University Avenue.

When officers arrived, they attempted to evaluate Chambers in an effort to assist him, but he was reportedly hostile and stood in a bladed stance as if he were preparing to attack. Officers reportedly saw a folding knife on the ground next to Chambers, and Chambers reportedly said, “If you do anything, you’ll have to kill me.”

Officers noticed a burnt glass crack pipe on the ground next to Chambers and asked Chambers about it; he reportedly stated spontaneously that he had bought a “rock” the previous night. An officer noted that a “rock” refers to narcotics. Chambers was detained at that point.

As a third officer arrived in a patrol vehicle, Chambers reportedly moved aggressively toward the patrol vehicle, and officers approached him from behind in an attempt to place him in handcuffs.

Chambers allegedly said he would “kill LEO” and then turned around quickly and threw a cup of a liquid that smelled like alcohol on two officers; the alcohol struck the officers in the chest and face area.

Officers took Chambers to the ground, where he allegedly continued to struggle and refused to drop a lighter that was in his hand.

While he was on the ground, Chambers allegedly intentionally ignited the lighter in the groin area of one of the officers he’d splashed alcohol on, and the officer felt his groin area heat up. Several officers reported hearing the lighter click.

Officers eventually subdued Chambers and transported him for medical treatment.

Chambers has been charged with attempted homicide, battery on a law enforcement officer, and resisting an officer without violence. We will update his criminal history and bail amount when it is posted, but he has at least five felony convictions (one violent) and 88 misdemeanor convictions (five violent) and has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2023. [Editor’s note: these numbers were taken from a 2020 First Appearance Order that showed four felonies and 86 misdemeanors; after that date, Chambers was convicted of one additional felony and two additional misdemeanors, but his First Appearance Order from today shows the same count as the 2020 document, for a total of 90 convictions.]

Judge William Davis ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.