“Went Too Far:” Gainesville Man Arrested for Dating Violence After Getting Probation for Domestic Battery by Strangulation

Early Saturday morning, Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers arrested Jarrett Deion Williams, 30, and charged him with false imprisonment (felony dating violence) and battery (misdemeanor dating violence).  

According to the arrest report, the victim and Williams got into an argument while they were out making food deliveries. The victim told Williams she did not need his help making deliveries and was going to walk home.

The victim told police that she got out of the car and Williams followed her, grabbed her and forced her back into the vehicle against her will. She said that the more she tried to push and pull away, the more force Williams used. Williams reportedly grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her while forcing her in the vehicle. 

A witness advised they saw the incident and that the victim was pleading with her to help and call the police. The witness said Williams grabbed the victim by her torso and possibly her neck and she fell to the ground during the struggle with Williams. 

The witness recalled that Williams yelled something at them when the victim said to call the police. 

The witness confirmed they called the police. 

Officer Owen Osborne reported, “[Williams] acknowledged getting into a physical altercation with the victim... [Williams] told me things went too far with the victim.”

Williams is held without bond pending a pretrial detention motion. Even if the motion is denied, Williams may not qualify for release due to a probation violation affidavit likely being imminent. 

Prior case

On June 25, 2025, GPD officers arrested Williams and charged him with burglary, property damage and domestic battery by strangulation against the same victim. 

According to the arrest report, Williams showed up at the victim’s residence without her permission after their relationship ended. Williams threw a rock at the victim’s window, but she didn’t engage with him. After being ignored, Williams kicked the door down, causing property damage.

Williams then entered the victim’s house, threw her onto the bed by her arms and strangled her. She had visible injuries on her arms, throat and eye. 

Williams “admitted to kicking the front door of the residence off the hinges and placing his hands around the victim’s throat,” the arrest report states.

On October 6, 2025, prosecutors entered into a no contest plea agreement with Williams where he was sentenced to three years of probation with drug offender conditions. The agreement was accepted by Judge Robert Groeb. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped the burglary charge and allowed Williams to avoid a formal conviction for the strangulation charge. He was only convicted of misdemeanor property damage. The probation conditions allowed Williams to have contact with the victim as long as he is not “hostile.”

Back in 2022, Williams was arrested on charges of child abuse, domestic battery and witness intimidation but prosecutors dropped the case and did not formally file the charges.