Man on pre-trial release arrested for threatening family members with a knife

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Richard Dexter Wright, 41, was arrested last night and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly threatening two family members with a large knife.

At about 10:12 p.m. on July 6, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to a report of an armed disturbance; the victims said Wright had started an argument with them in the front yard of their home and then pulled out a long knife and threatened to kill both of them. They said he went down the street to get rid of the knife.

A witness corroborated the victims’ account of the incident and added that Wright came back without the knife after walking down the street.

Post Miranda, Wright reportedly said it was just a verbal argument and he did not have a knife.

Wright has eight felony convictions (three violent) and 11 misdemeanor convictions (three violent), in addition to multiple dropped charges for violent offenses, including attempted homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and domestic battery. He has served five state prison sentences, with his most recent release in March 2023. He was last arrested in March for child abuse without great bodily harm; bail was originally set at $50,000, but he was released on his own recognizance in April after prosecutors failed to file formal charges within 40 days. Wright has also been charged with violation of his pre-trial release conditions in that case because he is not permitted to be at the home where the incident occurred.

Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered Wright 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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