Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Hosea Jathneil Lewis, Jr., 22, was arrested yesterday and charged with aggravated battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, theft, and drug possession after allegedly attacking a stranger with a hammer and threatening him with a gun.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a call at about 9:50 a.m. on Sunday at an emergency room; the victim told the deputy that when he returned to his Tower Oaks Glen apartment that morning around 6:30 a.m., two men he didn’t know confronted him. He said the older man physically attacked him, and the younger man, later identified as Lewis, hit him in the head and back with a hammer. Then Lewis allegedly lifted his shirt to reveal a handgun and said, “I should shoot this n****” while placing his hand on the gun.

The victim said he ran and dove into the apartment door, but the older man followed him into the apartment and kicked and punched him. The victim said he saw Lewis run to a newer model dark gray Ford F-150 pickup, then Lewis allegedly returned and continued attacking him. He said Lewis snatched a necklace from his neck and took his phone. The victim said he was eventually able to escape to a family member’s residence.

The deputy reported that the victim had numerous injuries to his face and head, and a medical provider reportedly said his cheekbone was fractured.

The deputy drove to the victim’s apartment and saw a pickup truck matching the description provided by the victim; the truck was driven by a young man who matched the description of the younger man in the attack, and the passenger matched the description of the older man.

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The deputy conducted a traffic stop on the pickup truck and detained Lewis, who was later positively identified by the victim.

A search of the pickup truck reportedly produced two “blunts,” one of which contained MDPV, and two hammers that matched the description provided by the victim. The victim’s phone was also reportedly found in the truck.

The older man had not been identified at the time the report was written.

Lewis has no criminal history; Judge Sheree Lancaster ordered him held on $460,000 bail.

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.