Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Michael Fleurinvil, 30, was arrested yesterday and charged with battery and false imprisonment after allegedly pushing a GRACE Marketplace employee into his office and refusing to let him leave, then punching another employee.

At about 12:35 p.m. yesterday, a Gainesville Police Department Officer responded to GRACE Marketplace, 3055 NE 28th Drive, where an employee reportedly said that Fleurinvil had pushed him into his office, then closed the door and refused to let him leave. The employee said Fleurinvil also put him into a “bear hug.”

After the first employee got away, Fleurinvil allegedly punched a second employee three times in the face. A witness reportedly told the officer that she heard the commotion in the first employee’s office and saw Fleurinvil hit the second employee.

The officer reported that Fleurinvil resisted arrest by twisting his body and trying to break free of his grasp.

Fleurinvil has been charged with two counts of simple battery, false imprisonment, and resisting an officer without violence. He has one misdemeanor conviction (non-violent); a sworn complaint was filed against him in 2019 for pointing a gun at someone, but the charge was later dropped for lack of evidence. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $72,500 and ordered a mental health evaluation.

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.