Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Daren Gary Smith, 56, was arrested last night after allegedly harassing customers and spitting on the manager of the Butler Plaza Walmart.

At about 9:21 p.m. last night, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to a call about a man causing a disturbance and harassing customers at the self-checkout station at Walmart. The store manager was reportedly familiar with Smith because he was trespassed indefinitely from the store on August 3 and later charged with trespass after warning; he was also reportedly yelling at customers during that incident.

While the manager was escorting Smith from the store, Smith allegedly turned and spit in the manager’s face. The manager reportedly defended himself, punching Smith twice in the face. Both declined medical treatment.

Two witnesses reportedly told the officer they saw the manager escort Smith from the store without any physical contact and that Smith had spit on the manager without any provocation.

The officer reported that Smith smelled strongly of alcohol.

Post Miranda, Smith reportedly said he had paid for merchandise at the self-checkout station, then the manager asked him to leave without any reason. He said the manager escorted him out of the store and punched him twice without any provocation.

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Smith has 17 felony convictions (none violent) and 24 misdemeanor convictions (two violent). He has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2010.

Smith was arrested in December 2022 for allegedly punching and kicking a man and threatening to kill a woman with a knife. He was released on his own recognizance when charges were not filed within 40 days; formal charges of burglary, battery, and resisting an officer were filed a week later. He is still on pre-trial release in that case; he has had a psychological evaluation and was found competent to stand trial.

He was arrested again on August 31 on four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of child abuse after allegedly pulling a knife on four people at the northeast Walmart; the charges were later dropped.

In November, Smith entered a plea of nolo contendere for trespass after warning at the Butler Plaza Walmart and was sentenced to 30 days in jail with credit for 30 days served.

Judge Craig DeThomasis set bail at $3,000.

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.