Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 45-year-old man, David Zovon Smith, was taken into custody yesterday for allegedly assaulting a woman with a piece of broken glass. The incident occurred despite her efforts to assist him due to his homelessness.
The woman involved recounted to an officer from the Gainesville Police Department that on the morning of July 9, around 8:30 a.m., she noticed Smith at the rear of her property. Wanting to help him because of his situation, she approached him. She mentioned that she had been acquainted with Smith for several months prior to this occurrence.
Despite her intentions, the conversation took a turn when Smith reportedly became irate. As she attempted to soothe him, Smith allegedly smashed a glass jar on the road. He then picked up a shard from the broken glass and hurled it at her, striking her on the chest and causing a minor abrasion. After the altercation, Smith left the scene, but authorities apprehended him the following morning.
Smith is now facing charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. His criminal history includes 13 felony convictions, six of which involved violence, and 10 misdemeanor convictions, one also violent. Furthermore, he has served time in state prison on four occasions, with his latest release in 2024. On July 1, 2026, after pleading nolo contendere to trespassing following a warning, he was sentenced to a year of probation. Judge Donna Keim has set his bail at $100,000.
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.