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Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In the early hours today, 21-year-old Brian Steven Reichmann was taken into custody for allegedly brandishing a firearm while under the influence and subsequently fleeing from law enforcement in downtown Gainesville.
At approximately 1:47 a.m. on May 6, an officer from the Gainesville Police Department reported witnessing Reichmann, accompanied by two others, instigating altercations along the 100 block of West University Avenue. The officer observed one of Reichmann’s companions striking a random car exiting the State Attorney’s Office parking area, prompting him to intervene in a dispute involving Reichmann, his friends, and a bystander who was with the vehicle’s owner.
The bystander claimed that during the argument, Reichmann had aimed a gun at her.
According to the officer, Reichmann attempted to distance himself upon noticing law enforcement’s presence, though his friends urged him to return; nonetheless, he kept a barrier between himself and the officer. Spotting a handgun tucked in Reichmann’s waistband, the officer reacted by drawing his weapon and instructed Reichmann to refrain from reaching for his firearm.
The officer reported that Reichmann took advantage of the growing crowd to run northbound through the Wells Fargo parking garage; after a short foot chase, Reichmann was taken into custody in the 300 block of North Main Street.
A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a 9mm handgun that was loaded with hollowpoint rounds.
A second witness told the officer that she saw Reichmann pull a gun from his waistband and flash a “gunlight” at the first witness, causing her to fear for the first witness’s safety. At least one other person told the officer they ran for cover when they saw the gun.
Post Miranda, Reichmann reportedly said he didn’t do anything wrong and was only protecting “his family” from the other people at the scene, but he did not say anything about other people threatening him with weapons.
Reichmann reportedly admitted to pointing his “spotlight” at people, and when asked to clarify, he said it was an “Olight,” mounted to his gun. Reichmann reportedly admitted that he had been drinking and was intoxicated. He said he ran because he was afraid when he saw the officer approaching.
Reichmann was transported to an emergency room because he suffered superficial injuries after tripping during the foot chase, but he reportedly declined treatment.
The officer reported that the first witness left the scene and did not want to press charges of aggravated assault, once Reichmann was taken into custody. Reichmann’s friends were also reportedly gone by the time the officer returned to the original area.
Reichmann has been charged with improper exhibition of a firearm, resisting an officer without violence, using a firearm under the influence of alcohol, and disorderly conduct. He has no criminal history, and Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $8,000 and ordered him to have no weapons and refrain from consuming alcohol or drugs.
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.