Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Tyler Jackson Hess, 25, was arrested yesterday and charged with aggravated battery after allegedly stabbing the driver of a car he hit while riding a bike.

The victim told a Gainesville Police Department officer that he had been driving through the intersection of Newberry Road and NW 43rd Street when Hess, who was riding a bicycle, crashed into the side of his vehicle.

The victim said he pulled over to check whether the bicyclist needed medical attention, and it looked to him like Hess was going to shake his hand, but instead Hess pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed him in the abdomen.

The victim said that after stabbing him, Hess said, “That’s a death wish.” The victim said he went back to his vehicle until officers and EMS arrived.

An officer detained Hess about three blocks away from the crash, and Hess reportedly said without being prompted, “I have the right to defend myself.”

A knife was reportedly found where Hess was detained.

Hess was arrested in 2020 for pulling a knife on a woman in a medical office and entered a plea of nolo contendere to charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer without violence. He was adjudicated guilty of the misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer, and adjudication of guilt was withheld on the felony charge of aggravated assault. He was sentenced to 24 months of probation in February 2021 with the condition that he continue mental health treatment. He was re-arrested in November 2021 after discontinuing mental health treatment, but after he showed that he had a new mental health provider, the terms of his probation were reinstated, and he successfully completed probation.

Hess, who is described as homeless in the arrest report, has one felony conviction (one violent) and five misdemeanor convictions (two violent). Judge Thomas Jaworski set bail at $100,000.

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.