Newberry man arrested for pointing gun at three utility workers

Staff report

Updated on October 23 with bail information

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Phillip Demetrius Joseph, 48, of Newberry, was arrested yesterday for allegedly pointing a gun at three utility workers.

At about 5:22 p.m. on October 14, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a report of an armed disturbance in the 2900 block of SW 298th Street; the three victims said they were working on telephone poles for a telecommunications company when Joseph and his wife stopped their vehicle and Joseph accused them of being drug dealers.

The victims said they were contracted to work on utility poles on both sides of the road, so they moved to poles across the street to get away from Joseph, but he continued to yell and them and call them drug dealers. The victims said Joseph pulled a handgun from a holster at his waist and aimed the gun at each man in turn.

All three victims said they were in fear of being shot, and two of them said the gun was pointed at their faces from less than 10 feet away.

Deputies reported finding the loaded firearm on Joseph’s person, and they found a second loaded magazine on the ground where the victims said he was standing during the incident.

Post Miranda, Joseph, who lives near the incident location, reportedly admitted to confronting the victims and demanding identification. He said he followed them across the road and pulled his handgun when he felt the first victim had “crossed beyond where he needed to be working.” He said he aimed the gun at the ground and told the first victim not to go toward his house; he reportedly admitted to waving the gun around while talking and said he could potentially have pointed the gun at the victims.

Joseph has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has no criminal history, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial.

On October 23, Judge David Kreider denied the motion and set bail at $30,000, ordering that Joseph may remain in his residence while utility workers are present, as long as he does not interact with them.

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.