The saga between Gainesville resident Devante’ Zachery, also known as “Tay Bang,” and the UF football team continues with a pair of Gainesville police reports from July 25 and 22.
A report dated July 25 reveals a background of incidents, including multiple altercations between Zachery’s crew and football players.
According to the report, there was an altercation in front of the Rain nightclub on Feb. 17 between members of the football team and locals.
The police report included a conversation with Zachery. He claimed a friend of his was “jumped” inside the club and identified the following football players as present during the incident: C’yontai Lewis, Tyrie Cleveland, Kadarius Toney, Malik Davis, Chauncey Gardner, Luke Ancrum, Vosean Joseph, Emory Jones, Rick Wells, CJ McWilliams.
The report also said that Cleveland, Davis and Toney among others were walking in a group of 8 to 10 people on Feb. 25 at TB McPherson Park. The officer on duty reported hearing words like, “Where they at?” The same officer was on duty at Rain nightclub on Feb. 17, and warned the players to leave the area and to avoid fighting with locals.
The report also included statements from Zachery as follows:
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He said the conflict between members of his crew and the UF football team dates back to a friendly argument about guns that occurred inside Rain on Feb. 10 and involved Lewis, Cleveland and Gardner.
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He saw football players on campus, and they threw rocks at his car, chased him with frying pans.
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He said Toney had a rifle on May 28.
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He said Cleveland was “knocked out badly” in front of Rain by a member of Zachery’s crew on July 4.
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He also claimed to have offered discounts to Lewis and Joseph from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, his place of employment (there’s no evidence these discounts were accepted).
Police advised Zachery to discontinue any contact with members of the UF football team.
In a July 22 incident report, Toney was pulled over in his white Chevrolet Monte Carlo for a seatbelt violation at the 100 block of Gainesville’s SW 1st St when police found a black assault rifle in the back seat.
Sophomore defensive back Brian Edwards was also in the car.
Neither player was arrested, but both were detained before being released.
According to the report, Toney said he purchased the rifle for “protection because of locals.”
The incident reports appear below.
mstine@alligator.org
