Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Erica Nichol Williams, 39, was arrested early this morning and charged with swinging a bat at another woman at Hickory Hills Apartments (3900 block of SW 17th Lane).

The victim told the responding Gainesville Police Department officer that Williams showed up while she was moving out of an apartment at Hickory Hills; Williams is reportedly the godsister of another person who lives in the victim’s former apartment. The victim said Williams stood in her way while she was trying to transport her belongings to her new apartment, and when she asked Williams to move, she said Williams said she had “something for your a**.”

The victim said Williams went to her vehicle, came back with a bat, and swung it at least three times at her but missed. The victim said she was in fear for her life and backed away from Williams. The victim said Williams pointed the bat at her face, touching her nose, and said she was “tired of her [expletive]” before driving away.

A witness reportedly said Williams lived at “Village Green” and that she had argued with the victim, but he declined to say anything more.

Two other witnesses reportedly said they saw Williams yelling at the victim in the parking lot before taking a “long stick-like object” from her vehicle and swinging it multiple times at the victim. They said Williams drove away with a man in a black vehicle.

The officer went to Sweetwater Square Apartments (formerly known as Village Green) and located Williams.

Post Miranda, Williams reportedly said she and her boyfriend had been invited to the first witness’s apartment, and while the victim was moving, she intentionally bumped into her in the parking lot. Williams reportedly said the victim took a “crack pipe” from her purse and started walking toward her, so out of fear, she went to her vehicle to get her bat, walked back toward the victim, and intentionally swung her bat at the victim.

Williams has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felony battery with previous battery convictions. She has four felony convictions (four violent) and five misdemeanor convictions (three violent); sworn complaints for battery and property damage were filed in 2024 but later dropped. Judge James Colaw set bail at $25,000.

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.