Report by Staff
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In the early hours today, Sierra Janae Reynolds, 25, found herself under arrest. She’s accused of assaulting a woman with a broken glass bottle at Campus Walk Apartments.
Around 10:50 p.m. on June 29, officers from the Gainesville Police Department arrived at Campus Walk Apartments located at 914 SW 8th Avenue. When they arrived, the victim explained she had been visiting her sister and got involved in an argument with another woman over a past incident. During this exchange, she noticed Reynolds smashing a liquor bottle against the building and holding the jagged end.
Although the argument with the witness was unrelated to Reynolds, it spiraled into a physical altercation. At that moment, the victim felt blood beginning to drip down her face, prompting her to quickly seek refuge in her sister’s apartment.
Witnesses on the scene confirmed to officers that they observed Reynolds breaking a bottle before advancing toward the victim.
The witness who was involved in the fight told an officer that she saw Reynolds break a bottle and swing the broken neck at the victim two or three times. She said that after Reynolds hit the victim, she took the broken bottle neck from Reynolds and threw it on the ground. She said Reynolds was not provoked by anyone, and she did not know why Reynolds attacked the victim. She also said she knows Reynolds well, and earlier in the day, she had heard Reynolds talking about cutting someone.
GPD’s Forensic Crime Unit reportedly found a shattered vodka bottle in the walkway, with the broken bottle neck about 10 feet away; blood was spattered throughout two apartments.
Post Miranda, Reynolds reportedly said she didn’t remember anything except that she was going to a friend’s house and then saw blood everywhere. However, she later changed her story and said she had drunk an entire bottle of vodka that evening, and after finishing the bottle, she kept it for protection. The officer noted that she did not specify what she was protecting herself from, but she stated repeatedly that she kept the bottle for protection.
Reynolds also reportedly said that she broke the vodka bottle while the victim and the witness were arguing, and then she swung it several times in an attempt to get everyone’s attention and stop the argument. She said someone grabbed the broken bottle neck from her, but she could not say who it was.
When she was asked whether she had hit the victim with the broken bottle neck, Reynolds reportedly said she did not remember hitting anyone because she may have “blacked out.” She said she takes medication for a mental health diagnosis, but she was unable to identify the medication. She said she did not intend to hurt anyone and was just trying to stop the fight.
The victim sustained injuries to her forehead and chest and required 11 stitches.
Reynolds, whose address is listed as GRACE Marketplace, has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. She has no local criminal history; more information about her criminal history and her bail amount will be available on Wednesday.
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.