Bronson Man Arrested for Domestic Violence in Gainesville

Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers arrested John William Keithley, 41, Monday and charged him with misdemeanor domestic battery.

The victim was traveling to Gainesville for a doctor’s appointment. According to the arrest report, Keithley “doesn’t allow her to leave the house without him, so he was riding into town with her.”

The victim told police Keithley “pawned off all her property for drugs, and when they got to town, he demanded that she take him to Walmart so that he could sell his new cell phone.” The victim refused, and Keithley reportedly punched her in the bicep.

GPD Officer Rebecca White reported, “The victim called 911 but was uncooperative and drove away. While she was at her appointment, however, she had an x-ray to check for fractures. She was told there were no fractures, but she did have ‘soft tissue damage.’”

After the doctor’s appointment, Keithley and the victim continued arguing in their car, with Keithley reportedly demanding more money for drugs, despite the victim just sending him her last $3.

The victim told Keithley, “Go suck your dealer’s dick and get your dope.” Keithley got angry and told the victim to “say it again,” which she did. Keithley then punched the victim in her forehead, the arrest report states.

White reported, “The victim described to me a very volatile relationship over the past couple of years since they were married. She said that in July, he punched her in the side of her face and she showed me photos which showed extensive bruising on the entire side of her face. She said that another time, he palm heel striked her in the head which left lasting issues with her vision. She said that she has black ‘floaters’ that her doctor told her she would get used to. On another occassion, [Keithley] approached her from behind and choked her with his arm around her neck. She also said that he frequently bends her thumb backward and she has permanent damage and her thumb pops out of joint randomly.”

After being read his Miranda rights, Keithley denied hitting the victim and said they were arguing because she “had gone through his phone and accused him of cheating.”

When officers arrested Keithley, he called the victim a derogatory term and said he hopes she “has a heart attack.”

The Alachua County Jail is holding Keithley on a $10,000 bond.