Man sleeping at bus stop arrested for attacking business owner

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Deaker Johnson Sterling V, 39, was arrested yesterday morning and charged with battery on a person over the age of 65.

Sterling was reportedly sleeping at a bus stop outside Gainesville Health and Fitness Center (4820 Newberry Road) when the owner of a nearby business approached him and told him he was not allowed to sleep at the bus stop. Sterling allegedly became hostile and moved aggressively toward the victim. The victim reportedly backed away, but Sterling allegedly punched him repeatedly in the face. Both Sterling and the victim fell to the ground, where Sterling allegedly continued punching the victim. Sterling then fled on foot.

The victim, who is 70 years old, reportedly had a bloody nose and several swollen areas on his face, including the area around one eye and his mouth.

Sterling was reportedly found by a Gainesville Police Department officer in a nearby apartment complex, and he denied in a consensual interview that he punched the victim. Post Miranda, he declined to answer any questions. The arresting officer reported that Sterling had abrasions on his knees.

A witness reportedly identified Sterling as the primary aggressor in the altercation, and the victim positively identified him as the person who attacked him.

Sterling’s address is listed as St. Francis House (413 S. Main St.) on his arrest report, but court documents indicate that he said he lives in Live Oak and has only been in Alachua County for one day. He has 15 misdemeanor convictions (three violent) and has two active out-of-state warrants; five of the misdemeanor convictions were for incidents in Alachua County since 2020. Senior Judge Aymer “Buck” Curtin ordered him held on $15,000 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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