Gainesville Man Arrested After Chasing Down Woman and Black Man and Calling him the N-Word
Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Peter Anthony Giorlando, 27, this morning on an aggravated assault warrant.
The incident occurred on May 15 and a warrant was issued on July 17.
Deputy Ethan Miller responded to the Hidden Oaks Mobile Home Park after an off-duty deputy reported an assault. Miller met with the property manager (A.A.) and her boss (C.M.).
C.M. said that he and A.A. were riding a golf cart around the property when they noticed a dog out on a tether at 704 Queens Rd (later identified as Giorlando's residence). C.M. told the woman she needed to put the dog inside because it was against community policy. The police report indicates that she complied while appearing to be nice about the situation.
When the victims were returning the golf cart, Giorlando began following them in his SUV.
Miller reported, “While following them he revved his engine and drove within inches of hitting the golf cart the victims were on. He yelled out of his vehicle that he had something for them and that they better be ready. He followed them approximately a quarter mile revving the engine and almost hitting them. Both the victims believed that he was going to ram them with his SUV potentially causing serious bodily injury. Both victims said they interpreted Giorlando's threat [as meaning he] was going to shoot them.”
Giorlando reportedly followed the victims to the office before getting out of his vehicle and running up to C.M., who is a Black man. Giorlando reportedly called C.M. the n-word with a hard-r and said he would “kick his ass.” C.M. described Giorlando as being “almost chest to chest with him and pointing his finger” at his face.
Judge Denise Ferrero set Giorlando’s bond at $15,000, which is less than what the prosecutor recommended. Ferrero ordered him to refrain from possessing weapons/firearms and to not contact the victims. Giorlando posted the bond after spending less than a day in jail. He doesn't have any previous convictions in Alachua County, but he reportedly has a prior history for battery and other misdemeanors, court records show.
