Buchholz High School Janitor Attacks Idaho Falls Slasher in Alachua County Jail
On February 12, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies charged Ha’mod Hikeem McNutt with battery by a detainee for attacking another inmate.
Curtis E. Scharer is the inmate listed as the victim in the report. According to news reports from Idaho, Scharer was previously arrested for attacking a woman with a knife.
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Kaitlyn Hart
On February 3, Scharer was arrested by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and charged with misdemeanor assault on specified personnel.
Scharer’s pretrial investigative summary shows he has a warrant out of Idaho. Court records from his stabbing case show it was resolved through a plea deal with a guilty adjudication for aggravated battery. The warrant appears to stem from violating conditions of supervised release.
On February 8, McNutt, who was employed as a janitor at Buchholz High School but is now on administrative leave, was arrested by the University of Florida Police Department and charged with two counts of carrying a weapon on campus property.
The Jail Fight:
According to the police report, McNutt was standing near Scharer who was speaking with an uninvolved inmate.
McNutt’s motive for attacking Scharer is not clear from the report.
McNutt was reportedly caught on camera lunging towards Scharer, placing him in a chokehold and dragging him backwards. Scharer escaped the chokehold and started running away, but McNutt pursued and struck him more.
McNutt admitted to battering Scharer after being advised of his Miranda rights, the police report states.
Scharer’s Alachua County Arrest:
According to the arrest report, Deputy Steven Pillar responded to UF Psychiatric Hospital in reference to an assault.
Scharer was receiving mental health care and was “deemed competent” by medical staff.
After being informed he was discharged, Scharer became aggressive towards medical staff, prompting the victim, a social worker, to use de-escalation techniques. Scharer responded by spitting toward the victim, narrowly missing her.
The altercation was caught on video surveillance. According to the arrest report, the video was too pixelated to see the saliva, but the victim’s movements corroborated that she was trying to avoid a substance coming towards her.
Scharer denied spitting on the victim.
Scharer, a homeless man who has an active out-of-state warrant, remains in the Alachua County Jail on a $2,000 bond set by Judge Meshon Rawls.
McNutt’s UF Arrest:
According to the arrest report, UFPD Officer Coatland Robson observed McNutt walking on campus near Tigert hall around 9:00 p.m.
Robson reported, “I drove around to get in front of where he was headed and observed McNutt making an evasive maneuver by turning around and heading back North. I asked for an additional unit to set up on the North side of him so we could attempt to contact him. I caught up and made a consensual encounter with McNutt and began speaking with him regarding his business on campus. I asked McNutt if he had an ID on his person and if he would identify himself. McNutt complied with my request and presented a Florida driver's license. While continuing to speak with McNut, I observed a bulging item in the front pocket of [his] hoodie… McNutt advised it was a weapon. He was detained and placed under arrest for carrying to firearms on campus.”
Police reported that the guns found were a Smith and Wesson MP 380 Shield and a Charter Arm Undercover 38 Special, both loaded. There was also reportedly loose handgun ammo in his pocket.
Robson reported that McNutt “was asked if he had weapons on him yesterday [February 7] when Sgt. Pardue observed him between Bryan Heavener Hall. McNutt confirmed he had the weapons on him.”
McNutt, who has no criminal history and has reportedly worked in public schools for eight years, remains in the Alachua County Jail with a $200,000 bond on his gun charges and a $50,000 bond for the inmate battery, both set by Judge Susan Miller-Jones.
