Man Arrested for Dating Violence, False Imprisonment and Attempting to Stop Victim From Speaking to Police

Earlier this week, Gainesville Police Department officers arrested Zachary Scott Cousins, 33, and charged him with misdemeanor battery (dating violence), false imprisonment (felony) and attempting to withhold witness testimony (felony).

According to the arrest report, Cousins and the victim were having an argument over food they were eating in the bedroom when the victim said she was going to leave. Cousins reportedly became angry and pushed the victim back multiple times, preventing her from leaving. Cousins eventually let the victim go after she repeatedly told him to do so.

The victim started picking up her stuff. As she was crouched down, Cousins reportedly smacked the victim in the back of the head with a food box, threw her to the ground and kicked her in the face. Cousins then ran away from the scene. 

The victim’s neighbors told police they heard the victim screaming for help, prompting them to call 911. 

Officer Ellis Anderson reported, "Upon making contact with the victim, she showed me her phone which displayed several text messages from [Cousins] telling her not to give the police any information, telling her to lie about what happened saying that the altercation was only verbal, and trying to get her to not open the door for the police at all."

Police observed the victim with a busted lip, along with blood on her hands, face and the apartment floor.

The Alachua County Jail is holding Cousins on an $85,000 bond set by Judge Meshon Rawls.