Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dustin Chase Baker-Gray, 30, was arrested early Tuesday morning after allegedly threatening to punch a deputy; he later allegedly threatened to stab the deputy while he was detained in a patrol vehicle.

At about 12:39 a.m. on September 23, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the Sunoco gas station at 6800 W. Newberry Road after a call about a suspicious person going through trash cans and acting “crazy.”

The deputy made contact with Baker-Gray, who was reportedly throwing his backpack around. While the deputy was speaking with Baker-Gray, Baker-Gray allegedly said that if the deputy asked him another question, he would punch him in the face. The deputy noted that Baker-Gray was capable at that moment of punching him in the face, so he believed he would and could do it.

The deputy waited for backup to arrive before detaining Baker-Gray in handcuffs.

After being placed in handcuffs, Baker-Gray allegedly continued to threaten the deputy, saying he would “beat” him. Baker-Gray allegedly kicked the door of the patrol vehicle, shaking the vehicle, and tried to get out of the patrol vehicle while in handcuffs. Deputies decided to place him in leg restraints to prevent him from injuring himself, others, or property.

The deputy reported that Baker-Gray made several statements acknowledging that he knew the deputy was a law enforcement officer, saying that he had family in law enforcement; Baker-Gray reportedly said he would have the deputy’s badge and was just trying to help him because he didn’t want the deputies to get in trouble. While being transported to the jail, Baker-Gray allegedly made additional threats, saying he would stab the deputy and did not care that he was a “cop.”

Baker-Gray has been charged with making threats of violence toward a law enforcement officer. The deputy wrote, “It was apparent [Baker-Gray] was making the threat with the intent of hindering my investigation, as he wished for me to stop asking questions.”

Baker-Gray, whose address is listed in Wildwood, has no criminal history; Judge Sheree Lancaster set bail at $25,000 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.