Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Andrew Lee Cook, Jr., 24, was arrested yesterday and charged with eight felonies after allegedly pointing a gun at his ex-girlfriend after entering her residence without her permission.

At about 11:15 p.m. on Monday night, Cook allegedly arrived uninvited at the victim’s home in Woodland Park and entered her residence. Cook and the victim began arguing, and she told him she would call 911 if he did not leave; when he refused, she retreated to the bathroom and initiated a 911 call. Cook allegedly forced his way into the bathroom and pushed her into the tub, then hit her before pulling out a pistol and pointing it at her. He allegedly hit her in the head with the gun, and during a struggle for control of the gun, Cook allegedly kicked the victim in the face, grabbed her phone from her hand, and hung up the 911 call.

The victim tried to use a smart speaker to call 911, but Cook allegedly unplugged it and took her phone, the speaker, and a second phone with him when he left her residence.

Cook has been charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, preventing communication with law enforcement, armed robbery, armed burglary of a dwelling, aggravated battery causing bodily harm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and grand theft from a dwelling.

Cook has two felony convictions (one violent) and four misdemeanor convictions (none violent). He has a history of dropped charges, including improper exhibition of a firearm, property damage, battery, robbery, and preventing communication with law enforcement. He recently served a seven-month jail sentence for violating release conditions on a domestic battery case and has not made payments toward his payment plan for the court costs and fees imposed in that case.

Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered Cook held without bail on four of the charges, pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial, and he set bail at $100,000 on the other four charges.

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.