Gainesville woman charged with trying to intentionally hit a child with her vehicle

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sharon Denice Anderson, 63, was arrested last night and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly trying to hit a child on a bicycle with her vehicle.

At about 8:20 p.m., a Gainesville Police Department Officer responded to the 300 block of NW 8th Avenue, where the victim and three witnesses said Anderson drove off the road while trying to hit a child on a bike.

Anderson was driving on NW 8th Avenue when the victim, a juvenile riding a bicycle, violated her right of way, causing her to swerve to avoid hitting him. After that incident, she allegedly made a 180-degree turn, followed the victim, then drove onto the sidewalk toward the victim. The victim reportedly fell off his bicycle, and the vehicle stopped about two feet from where the victim landed.

A witness reported saw Anderson drive her vehicle onto the sidewalk, almost hitting the victim. The witness said the victim left the sidewalk and rode onto the grass in an attempt to avoid being hit, then jumped off his bicycle.

Two other witnesses told the officer they saw the victim cut across the road into Anderson’s path.

The officer noted that the victim “is easily identifiable as a juvenile.”

Before being detained and read her Miranda rights, Anderson reportedly said she had been driving the vehicle and made statements indicating that she knew the victim was a juvenile. She reportedly said she needed to “discipline” the juvenile.

Post Miranda, Anderson reportedly did not wish to answer questions.

Anderson has one felony conviction (one violent) for battery on a law enforcement officer in 1987 and one misdemeanor conviction (non-violent). Judge Thomas Jaworski ordered her released on her own recognizance.

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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