Staff report

ARCHER, Fla. – William Joseph Yerke, 30, was arrested yesterday after allegedly shooting a gun in a residential neighborhood. He has been charged with two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, shooting a firearm under the influence of alcohol, and firing a weapon on residential property.

At about 2:36 p.m. on December 21, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the 13500 block of SW 89th Terrace for a well-being check on Yerke; the caller indicated that he had been drinking that day and “had been in a bad place.” As deputies were responding to that call, multiple 911 callers reported hearing shots from Yerke’s residence.

One caller described the suspect as a white male wearing Christmas slippers and said he was carrying a 9mm handgun with a 30-round magazine; the caller said the suspect was walking down the road toward other homes and “may be on something.”

Deputies made contact with Yerke at the intersection of SW 135th Place and SW 87th Street and reported that the neighborhood “was populated with workers and innocent bystanders at that time” and that Yerke was intoxicated. They reported finding a loaded gun near that location, and Yerke reportedly stated spontaneously that he had dropped the gun.

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A witness reportedly provided deputies with a video that showed Yerke shooting the gun from his backyard toward a tree; the deputy reported that numerous mobile homes are located behind the tree, the shots could have hit those homes, and at least one neighboring home was hit by a bullet.

During a protective sweep of Yerke’s residence, deputies reportedly found about 65 rounds of ammunition, a 30-round magazine, and an open alcoholic container in Yerke’s bedroom.

Yerke has five felony convictions (none violent). Judge Thomas Jaworski set bail at $250,000.

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.