Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Latoya Cherelle Cook, 36, was arrested yesterday for allegedly hitting two people with a vehicle and attempting to hit a third person; she was also booked on warrants for violating probation in three previous cases.

On April 6, Cook reportedly got into a verbal argument with the victims in the 2500 block of NW 62nd Place and hit two of the victims with her vehicle before leaving the scene. She also allegedly tried to hit a third victim, but that person jumped out of the way of the vehicle. The victims reportedly said they were distant relatives of Cook and had had previous interactions with her.

The responding Gainesville Police Department officer was unable to locate Cook at the time of the incident, a sworn complaint was filed, and a warrant for her arrest was issued.

Cook has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Cook has nine felony convictions (three violent) and eight misdemeanor convictions (non-violent), is on probation in three previous cases, and has served one state prison sentence; she was declared an absconder in February 2025 after failing to report to her probation officer for three months and changing her address without notifying the probation officer. Judge Sheree Lancaster ordered her held without bail on the probation violations until those cases are resolved, and she ordered her held without bail on the new charges, pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold her without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

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.