Melrose man arrested for slashing neighbors’ tires

Staff report

MELROSE, Fla. – Austin Palmer, 36, was arrested yesterday for allegedly slashing his neighbors’ tires and shattering a windshield after previously being trespassed from the victims’ property.

On July 11, the victims returned to their Melrose home and found that two of their vehicles had been damaged: one vehicle’s windshield was shattered, three of that vehicle’s brand-new tires had been slashed, and three tires were slashed on a second vehicle. The responding Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy reported that the victims provided surveillance video that captured Palmer damaging both vehicles; the deputy noted that Palmer had been trespassed from the victims’ property on July 6.

The deputy reported that the video showed Palmer using an axe to slash the tires and a brick to smash the windshield; after damaging the vehicles, Palmer reportedly left the fenced yard, holding a brick and an axe.

On July 6, Palmer was officially trespassed from the victims’ property for one year, and a deputy documented at that time that Palmer was carrying an axe. When the deputy asked about the axe, Palmer reportedly said it was “a sign of friendship from the Old Statement.”

The damage to the vehicles was estimated at over $2,600.

Palmer has been charged with armed burglary, felony property damage, trespassing while armed with a dangerous weapon, and misdemeanor property damage. He has no criminal convictions, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $225,000 and ordered a mental health evaluation.

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.