Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Alicia Lashay Jones, 29, was arrested last night and charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of felony property damage after allegedly accelerating her vehicle toward three people and totaling two other cars.

At about 9:25 p.m. on October 22, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to Carver Gardens (1101 SE 15th Street) after receiving reports that a red Jeep Wrangler had swerved while entering the complex, nearly hitting a child. The caller said she and Jones got into a verbal argument, and as Jones was leaving, Jones accelerated her vehicle toward the caller and two other people, who all had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit.

The Jeep reportedly crashed into two parked cars with enough force to total both of them. The caller said the driver repeatedly hit the gas pedal, apparently trying to cause more damage.

The officer reported that Jones was still in the driver’s seat of the Jeep when she arrived and that she smelled alcohol on Jones’s breath.

Post Miranda, Jones reportedly admitted that she was driving the Jeep at the time of the incident; she said the victims were “talking bad about her” and that a child had run in front of her vehicle, causing the crash. She reportedly estimated her speed as about 20 mph, but the officer noted that through her training and experience, she estimated that the Jeep was traveling much faster than 20 mph. The officer reported that the Jeep hit the first parked car with enough force to crush it and push it over a curb, crumpling the vehicle parked next to it.

Jones has two felony convictions (non-violent). Judge Kristine Van Vorst ordered her held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold her without bail until trial.

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.