Man arrested for armed robbery, aggravated battery, and false imprisonment

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Tarus Woodall, 49, was arrested yesterday morning and charged with armed robbery, aggravated battery, and false imprisonment after allegedly hitting his girlfriend with a pistol, taking cash from her, and preventing her from leaving the house after law enforcement arrived.

At about 5:50 a.m. on September 25, Alachua County Sheriff’s (ASO) Deputies responded to Woodall’s home, where he allegedly argued with his girlfriend, hit her multiple times with a pistol, and took $60 from her. The victim also reportedly said he forced her to remove her earrings and give them to him, but the earrings were not recovered.

Woodall allegedly got a shotgun from another part of the home and loaded it in front of the victim before placing it on the sofa next to him and saying, “I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you right… now.”

When deputies arrived, they were reportedly able to speak with Woodall and the victim through a front window, and the arresting deputy reported that Woodall was still holding the pistol and telling the victim she should tell deputies that she was fine and they should go away. The deputy reported that the victim briefly opened the front door before Woodall ran up behind her and closed and locked the door. Deputies reportedly heard Woodall asking whether she had called law enforcement and telling her she was going to “make matters worse than they is.” The arresting deputy also reported that Woodall repeatedly told the victim that he would shoot her in the face.

The victim eventually escaped through the front door when Woodall’s attention was distracted; she reportedly suffered multiple bruises and cuts.

ASO negotiators contacted Woodall by phone, and he reportedly said he was walking to the ASO headquarters on SE Hawthorne Road. He was reportedly found on SE Hawthorne Road between his residence and ASO headquarters.

Post Miranda, Woodall reportedly said he never had any type of weapon and never got physical with the victim. He reportedly said the victim closed the door and told him she did not want to speak with law enforcement; he said she was injured in a fight she had gotten into earlier in the night.

Woodall has no local criminal convictions. He was charged with illegally carrying a concealed firearm in 2021, but the charge was later dropped. He is currently being held without bail.

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.

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