Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities have taken 41-year-old Jermine Leon Daniels into custody following accusations of brandishing a pistol at the downtown library on November 7.

According to the Gainesville Police Department, an officer responded to a call at the library located at 401 E. University Avenue around 9:42 a.m. on the day in question. The complainant stated Daniels began to harass him immediately upon his arrival. After a brief verbal exchange, the victim reported that Daniels allegedly retrieved a black handgun from his backpack and pointed it at him, prompting the victim to call 911 out of fear for his safety.

Daniels reportedly left the scene while the victim was on the phone with emergency services but returned shortly after police officers arrived.

The responding officer noted that the library’s surveillance footage was not accessible at the time of the incident, and several witnesses claimed they did not see a weapon during the altercation. Despite Daniels consenting to a search of his belongings, including his backpack, no firearm was discovered, resulting in his release at that moment.

A few days later, an officer reviewed surveillance video at the library and reported that it clearly showed Daniels and the victim arguing; after the victim walked away, Daniels kept yelling at him and then took a small black gun from his backpack and raised it at the victim before quickly lowering it and placing it back in the backpack. Daniels then walked to the rear of the library and put something in the bushes. About 45 minutes later, Daniels can be seen returning to the bushes and picking something up.

The officer wrote, “After reviewing the video, it is clear that Daniels was in possession of a small black handgun,” and he appeared to have hidden it in the bushes while the victim was on the phone.

Daniels, who is described as homeless in court documents, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He has 10 felony convictions (one violent) and 10 misdemeanor convictions (one violent) and has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in March 2023. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $250,000, the same amount set by Judge David Kreider in Daniels’ arrest warrant.

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.