Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Frederick Anthony Roesch, 52, was arrested Wednesday night and charged with battery on an emergency medical care provider after allegedly intentionally spraying blood on other people at Shands. He was booked into the jail yesterday afternoon.

At about 8 p.m. Wednesday night, Roesch went to Shands for treatment of an injury to his hand. As he walked down the hallway, he reportedly removed the bandage from his hand, which was still bleeding profusely, then allegedly began “willfully and maliciously” waving his arm around to spray blood on people while yelling that he wanted to get everyone sick (reportedly referring to being HIV-positive). The victim, a medical care provider in the Shands Emergency Room, was reportedly covered in Roesch’s blood.

Two witnesses saw the incident and reportedly corroborated the victim’s story.

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Post Miranda, Roesch reportedly did not want to speak to the responding Gainesville Police Department officer.

Roesch’s address is listed in Jacksonville, but his workplace is listed as a temporary agency in Gainesville. He has a criminal history going back to 2003 in Gainesville, with three local felony convictions. He has served seven prison terms for convictions in Alachua, Hillsborough, and Levy Counties, with his most recent release in June 2022.

Bail information is unavailable on weekends.

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.