Staff report

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Authorities arrested 26-year-old Brent Thomas Rodgers from Archer late last night following an accusation of assaulting a bartender.

The incident occurred around 11:35 p.m. on October 31 when an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy was called to a bar in the Town of Tioga. The bartender reported that an intoxicated Rodgers had engaged in a confrontation and deliberately struck him in the face, resulting in the bartender falling to the ground. Surveillance footage of the altercation was reportedly handed over to the deputy by the establishment.

A witness claimed that the bartender had just turned away when Rodgers unexpectedly hit him.

After the incident, Rodgers allegedly moved to a nearby venue, where deputies eventually located him. When instructed to stand for handcuffing, Rodgers reportedly resisted, stating he would not cooperate. The deputy then took him to the ground to secure the handcuffs.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a hollow-point .22 LR bullet in Rodgers’ pocket; as a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing ammunition.

Post Miranda, Rodgers reportedly declined to answer any questions without a lawyer.

Rodgers has been charged with felony battery with a prior conviction, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and resisting an officer without violence. He has one felony conviction (non-violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (one violent). He was arrested in 2024 for fleeing from law enforcement and entered into a pre-trial diversion agreement, but the agreement was revoked after he was arrested in March 2025 for domestic battery. After entering pleas in both cases, he was sentenced to 23 days in jail with credit for 23 days served, followed by 13 months of probation, in June for the fleeing case, and he was sentenced to a year of probation in the domestic battery case in July.

Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $175,000.

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.