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Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities apprehended 43-year-old Marquel Shawn Harris last night on a series of charges, including allegedly assaulting an officer by biting, driving under the influence, illegal possession of a firearm by a felon, resisting arrest without violence, and operating a vehicle with a suspended license.
Around 9 p.m. on April 4, police officers in Gainesville responded to a vehicle rollover incident in the 1200 block of NE 53rd Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found Harris standing near a car that had overturned and ended up on its side among the trees. Harris reportedly declared that he was merely trying to make his way home when other drivers “cut him off,” indirectly indicating he was driving the overturned vehicle.
While inspecting the scene, an officer spotted a handgun resting on the driver’s side window. Another officer secured the weapon as the first officer reviewed Harris’s criminal background, discovering three prior felony convictions.
The officer observed signs of intoxication in Harris, noting his watery, glassy eyes, slurred speech, and unsteady stance. Harris was subsequently taken to a nearby hospital to receive medical evaluation.
A third officer spoke with one of the other drivers and estimated that the damage to that victim’s car was about $6,000.
At the hospital, the first officer reported that a nurse supervisor told him that Harris’s blood alcohol level was 0.314%, almost four times the legal limit of 0.08%.
Post Miranda, Harris reportedly said multiple times that he did not understand his rights and then said he was “pleading the fifth.” Harris reportedly refused to provide a blood sample; the officer reported that he also has a previous refusal.
When officers adjusted Harris’s handcuffs so he could sign the discharge paperwork from the hospital, Harris allegedly pulled away. When the first officer walked over to assist and reached across Harris’s body to help secure his left arm, Harris allegedly bit the officer, leaving a long abrasion that broke the skin.
Harris has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, battery on a law enforcement officer, DUI with property damage, resisting an officer without violence, and driving with a suspended license; the first officer noted that Harris’s license was suspended in January 2026 for refusal to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test. He has three local felony convictions (non-violent) and 14 local misdemeanor convictions (non-violent), including a DUI conviction. Judge William Davis set bail at $70,000.
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