Gainesville Man Posts $25k Bond After Aggravated Assault Arrest

Stephen Christopher Blaum, 29, was released from the Alachua County Jail Wednesday after posting a $25,000 bond set by Meshon Rawls on a count of aggravated assault.

According to the arrest report, the victim was at his friend’s apartment Tuesday night and they were listening to music around 11:00 p.m. 

Blaum, angry over the volume of the music, reportedly banged on the door of the neighboring apartment and began shouting at the victim and his friend to turn it down when they opened the door.

The arrest report continues, “When Vic and his friend refused to turn down the music, [Blaum] made a statement that he was going to grab an unknown item and come back over to confront them again before walking away.”

The victim told police that he grabbed a knife out of fear and closed the apartment door, but a short time later decided to disarm himself and walk outside.

Once outside the residence, the victim reportedly encountered Blaum holding a dark-colored handgun, putting a round in the chamber before pointing it in his direction. 

The victim said Blaum was standing five feet away from him and he retreated in fear for his life. 

When confronted by police, Blaum spoke with them, reportedly admitting to the initial interaction where he banged on the door over the music and shouted at the occupants of the apartment before walking away. Blaum said that once back inside, he saw a light shining through his apartment window prompting him to grab his handgun and confront the victim. Blaum told police he pointed the firearm in the air and denied pointing it at the victim or loading a round in the chamber. 

Blaum gave police consent to search his apartment where they found the handgun with an ejected magazine and no round in the chamber. 

The property manager of the apartment complex told police that she received a phone call from Blaum threatening to shoot occupants of the residence if she didn’t take action to get the music turned down. 

If convicted, this would be Blaum’s first criminal adjudication, court records show. 

Under the conditions of his pretrial release, Blaum cannot contact the victim or possess any firearms.