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By Staff Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A man named Bernard John Rutkowski, aged 52, was taken into custody yesterday following accusations of stealing a soda from Relish and making threats against a police officer’s life.
At approximately 1:40 p.m. on February 8, an officer from the Gainesville Police Department responded to an incident at Relish located at 201 SE 1st Street. According to an employee, Rutkowski, who had previously been banned from the premises, entered the establishment, was informed of his trespass status, took a bottle of Coke, and left the store without paying.
The officer was able to locate Rutkowski in the 400 block of South Main Street. Having had prior encounters with him, the officer confirmed that Rutkowski matched the description provided by the Relish staff.
Upon conducting a search following the arrest, officers did not find a Coke bottle in Rutkowski’s possession. When questioned, Rutkowski denied any involvement in the alleged soda theft.
After being placed in the officer’s patrol vehicle, Rutkowski allegedly threatened to shoot the police officer if he ever saw him again and threatened to cut the officer’s throat with a knife in the future; the officer also reported that Rutkowski threatened to blow up his car with hand grenades.
Rutkowski, who is described as homeless in the arrest report, has been charged with petit theft (third or subsequent offense), threatening a police officer, and trespassing after a warning. He has 20 misdemeanor convictions (one violent). He was arrested in 2022 for stealing an energy drink and breaking a glass door at Starbucks in the same area of downtown; he was later sentenced to 60 days in jail with credit for 60 days served in that case. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $65,000 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.