Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Steve Dene Stacy, Jr., 39, was arrested on Thursday after allegedly walking up to a man in Holly Heights, punching him, and pointing a gun at him.

The victim said he was speaking with a woman in the 500 block of SW 68th Terrace when Stacy walked up, saying, “Do I know you?” He said Stacy punched him twice on the lip, and when he stumbled backwards, Stacy pulled a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at him. The victim said he ran to his vehicle and drove away quickly for his safety.

The victim provided a detailed description of the gun.

Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived within two minutes and reported that Stacy ran when he saw them; deputies noted that he had “an abnormal bulge in the waistband area of his pants, consistent with the concealment of a firearm.” He was eventually captured in the 1000 block of SW 59th Terrace; the arrest report does not state whether the gun was recovered.

Post Miranda, Stacy reportedly denied the entire incident.

Stacy has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felony battery, and resisting an officer without violence. He has 13 felony convictions (non-violent) and six misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served four state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2022. Judge George Wright set bail at $200,000.

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.