NEWBERRY, Fla. – Earnest Lee Coleman Jr., 44, was taken into custody this morning in Countryway Town Square following a nine-hour standoff with law enforcement.
Coleman’s arrest report has not yet been released, but the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called to a home in the Jonesville area at about 8:45 p.m. on September 1 after receiving a report of a battery that allegedly occurred at a residence in Countryway Town Square.
According to ASO, the 73-year-old victim reported that she and Coleman got into an argument on August 31 that escalated into a physical attack. Coleman allegedly threatened her with a gun, took her phone, and stopped her from leaving the home. The victim said the situation continued into the following day and that Coleman appeared to be under the influence of narcotics. She eventually escaped and went to a nearby family member’s home, where she contacted law enforcement.
Deputies said the victim had visible bruising that appeared consistent with her description of the incident.
Authorities then set up a perimeter around a residence in the 24600 block of SW 21st Circle in Countryway Town Square and repeatedly used a public address system to order Coleman to come outside. He did not comply.
Deputies reportedly confirmed that Coleman was inside the home, and he was believed to be armed and to have access to multiple firearms. ASO activated its SWAT Team, Bomb Squad, K-9 teams, and the Criminal Investigations Division, and the Alachua County Fire Rescue Drone Team assisted in establishing the perimeter. Nearby residents were evacuated from their homes.
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For more than nine hours, deputies worked to get Coleman peacefully out of the home, including deploying a Bomb Squad robot inside the home; the SWAT Team used distraction devices (including one that made a very loud noise) and chemical agents.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and the Florida Highway Patrol Drone Team also responded to assist ASO.
During the stand-off, deputies obtained an arrest warrant for Coleman, along with a search warrant.
At about 9:20 a.m. on September 2, Coleman surrendered and was charged with battery on a person over 65 years of age, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Coleman’s full criminal history is unavailable at this time, but ASO’s release states that he is a convicted felon, including a conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; locally, he has two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent). The arrest warrant signed by Judge Susanne Wilson Bullard ordered him held without bail.