GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 37-year-old man, Clarence Dion Banks, was taken into custody last night on charges of burglary and battery after allegedly providing a false identity to law enforcement.

Police officers from the Gainesville Police Department arrived at a residence in the 1100 block of NE 25th Terrace around 11:07 p.m. on January 4. They had received information suggesting a wanted individual might be inside the home. With the homeowner’s consent, officers conducted a search and discovered Banks reportedly concealing himself under a cover, refusing to show his face.

Eventually, Banks emerged from his hiding place and allegedly offered a false name and a slightly altered birthdate. When officers found no matching records for the provided identity, Banks ultimately revealed his true name. Although he was not the initial suspect sought by police, authorities discovered he had two outstanding warrants.

The first warrant stemmed from an incident on September 27. According to reports, Banks asked a woman if he could stay in her apartment overnight. When she declined, he allegedly pushed her down a flight of stairs. Hours later, the victim reportedly saw Banks exiting her apartment carrying a bag of groceries. Upon seeing her, he allegedly attempted to flee, dropping the groceries. When the victim confronted him, Banks reportedly charged at her, knocking her down and repeatedly punching her. The victim sustained severe injuries, including a deep knee laceration exposing the bone, and was reportedly covered in blood.

The first warrant was from an incident on September 27 in which Banks reportedly asked a woman if he could sleep in her apartment for the night, and when she said no, he allegedly pushed her down a flight of stairs. A few hours later, the victim saw Banks coming out of her apartment with a bag of groceries; when he saw the victim, he tried to run, dropping the groceries in the process. When the victim confronted him, Banks allegedly charged at her and pushed her down before punching her repeatedly. The victim was reportedly covered in blood from injuries that included a deep laceration to her knee with exposed bone.

Banks has been charged with burglary, two counts of battery with a previous battery conviction, and giving a false name to a law enforcement officer. He has eight felony convictions (three violent, one sexual) and 12 misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served one state prison sentence for aggravated battery by a detainee and lewd and lascivious exhibition in a detention facility and was released in February 2025. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $202,000.

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.