Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Floyd Russell Hill, 57, was arrested early this morning for battery on two police officers and other charges after allegedly trying to drive away from a traffic stop while officers were trying to remove him from his vehicle.

At about 2:24 a.m. on August 13, a Gainesville Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop in the 1900 block of NE 3rd Avenue on a vehicle that failed to come to a complete stop before the stop bar. The driver, identified as Hill, reportedly produced a Florida ID card and said he did not possess a valid driver’s license; the officer reported that his license had been suspended 16 times.

The officer ordered Hill to get out of the vehicle and opened the door; Hill allegedly closed the door, and the officer “forcefully” opened the door again. Hill allegedly put the vehicle into Drive in an attempt to drive away, and the officer leaned into the vehicle and grabbed Hill’s right arm while Hill allegedly pressed the gas pedal.

A second officer put his foot on the brake pedal of the vehicle, and the first officer turned the vehicle off, but Hill allegedly turned the vehicle back on and kept trying to put the vehicle into Drive. The first officer turned the vehicle off multiple times while Hill allegedly turned it back on each time. The officer noted that Hill’s actions “could have led to great bodily harm or death by potentially running [the officers] over.” Hill also allegedly grabbed both officers during the struggle.

Hill was arrested after more officers arrived.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced four baggies containing 0.11 grams of cocaine, 0.7 grams of “MDPV,” and 0.6 grams of methamphetamine.

A search of the vehicle reportedly produced three hydrocodone pills.

Post Miranda, Hill reportedly admitted to driving the vehicle without a valid license but denied trying to drive away with officers inside his vehicle; he said the vehicle rolled forward while the officers were inside because it was already in Drive. Hill reportedly could not explain why he did not get out of the vehicle when ordered and admitted that the bags contained “drugs.” He reportedly said he had been at a party where he picked the drugs up from a table and put them in his pocket.

Hill has been charged with attempted aggravated fleeing, two counts of battery on a police officer, four counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, resisting an officer with violence, and driving with a suspended license with knowledge; he was also booked on a warrant for violating probation. He has 34 felony convictions (non-violent) and 14 misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he has served 8 state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2017. He is currently on probation in Alachua, Marion, and Orange counties.

Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail until the probation violation is resolved and set bail at $212,000 on the new charges.

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.