Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A Gainesville resident, Tyler Ashton Carter, 30, found himself under arrest on charges of using his vehicle to collide with a family member’s car, which harbored two young children inside.

According to an officer from the Gainesville Police Department, the incident unfolded around 12:51 p.m. on December 26. The altercation began with Carter allegedly striking the victim across the face. In an attempt to escape, the victim entered her vehicle with two eight-year-old children. Carter purportedly pursued her with his own car, crashing into the driver’s side door.

The victim recounted that due to her fear of Carter’s actions, she had insufficient time to buckle the children, resulting in their injuries as they were jostled within the vehicle. All three occupants reported sustaining injuries from the ordeal.

As the victim managed to drive away, Carter allegedly continued to pursue her. When she eventually halted to seek assistance, Carter exited his vehicle, reportedly threatening, “Imma kill y’all.”

The victim said she got back into her vehicle while calling 911, and she stayed on the phone while Carter allegedly followed her, continuing to ram her vehicle as she drove.

The victim said the children were afraid, and both children reportedly said they believed they were going to die. The children reportedly corroborated the victim’s story.

The officer reported that the victim’s vehicle sustained “substantial damage.”

Because the victim is pregnant, Carter has been charged with aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, two counts of aggravated child abuse, and felony property damage. He has two felony convictions (one violent) and three misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2017. Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

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.