Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Roderick William Gilbride III, 40, was arrested yesterday and charged with aggravated battery on a person over the age of 65 after he allegedly awakened a homeless man, punched him in the face, and kneed him in the face.

At about 11:47 a.m. on May 19, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to the 800 block of West University Avenue, where the victim said he had been sleeping outside a business when Gilbride woke him up and asked him for some cigarettes; he said he told Gilbride he would give him a cigarette if he came back in an hour and then Gilbride punched him in the head several times and kneed him in the face and forehead several times before walking away.

An officer found Gilbride in the 700 block of W. University Avenue, and post Miranda, Gilbride reportedly said he had argued with the victim, but nothing physical had happened. When the officer told Gilbride there was a video camera in the alley, Gilbride reportedly changed his statement and said he had tried to wake the victim because he was sleeping in an awkward position and he wanted to check on him. He said the victim grabbed him in an aggressive manner and he pushed the victim away before walking away.

When the officer told Gilbride that the video showed him punching and kneeing the victim in the face, Gilbride reportedly said he was just having a bad morning because someone stole some of his belongings.

The victim is 65 years old, making the charge a felony; Gilbride reportedly said he knew the victim was in his 60s but didn’t know his exact age.

Gilbride, whose address is listed as GRACE Marketplace, has four felony convictions (one violent) and eight misdemeanor convictions (one violent). Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $100,000.

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.