GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a dramatic turn of events last night, 57-year-old Tarry Lee Stine found himself in handcuffs following allegations of assaulting a man, brandishing a firearm, and holding off deputies for a tense 45 minutes.
At approximately 9:12 p.m. on August 25, deputies from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to Stine’s residence located in the 4900 block of SW 63rd Boulevard. Upon arrival, they encountered a visibly shaken victim suffering from multiple lacerations on his torso and arms. According to the victim, the chaos began when he drove one of the witnesses home. Shortly after arriving, she engaged in a heated disagreement with another individual present.
As the argument between the two witnesses escalated, Stine reportedly approached the victim’s vehicle, reaching through the open passenger window to deliver several punches, resulting in the injuries noted by officers. Afterward, Stine allegedly stepped back, lifting his shirt to reveal a small black handgun tucked into his waistband. This alarming sight left the victim fearing for his life, prompting him to hastily leave the scene.
One witness recounted that the victim had brought her to her residence, where she soon found herself in a confrontation with the other witness outside the car. She described seeing Stine reach into the vehicle, assault the victim, and then dramatically reveal the handgun at his waist. Her fear for the victim’s safety was palpable, especially since she had noticed Stine with a firearm at their home before, albeit in a holster.
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Meanwhile, the second witness confirmed the sequence of events, noting that her argument with the first witness coincided with the victim’s arrival. She detailed Stine’s aggressive move through the vehicle’s window and the subsequent display of what seemed to be a handgun. However, she clarified that Stine had previously shown her a pellet gun, which, due to its realistic appearance, could easily be mistaken for an actual firearm.
Deputies surrounded Stine’s residence and issued commands for him to come out; the second witness reportedly came out of the residence and said Stine was inside. Deputies continued to give commands over a loudspeaker for over 45 minutes, and they reported that they saw Stine looking at them from a window. After about 45 minutes, Stine came outside and was arrested.
Stine has been charged with burglary with battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and resisting an officer without violence. He has 13 felony convictions (four violent) and eight misdemeanor convictions (three violent), and he has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2023. Judge Meshon Rawls 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.