A Gainesville man was arrested Saturday night on charges of chasing another man with a samurai sword and resisting arrest.
The incident started just after 10 p.m. Saturday when Robert Chesser, 46, of 635 SW 11th Place, started to argue with the victim, according to a GPD arrest report.
Witnesses told police they saw Chesser run into his apartment, come out with a 3-foot long samurai sword and chase the man, swinging the sword at him.
When police arrived, Chesser ignored officers’ orders to remain outside and went back into his apartment.
Outside, Chesser’s wife told police that Chesser had “access to numerous swords and other bladed weapons,” according to the report.
Officers approached the apartment and talked to Chesser through his front door, asking him to come out.
Chesser then charged at police with a mop, yelling “I will f****** kill you,” according to the report.
A K-9 unit officer released K-9 Nero into the house to subdue him, but Chesser struck the dog with the mop handle.
Officers then went into the house and used a Taser to subdue and arrest Chesser.
Police charged Chesser with aggravated assault, two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer without violence, resisting an officer with violence, and striking or interfering with a police animal, according to the report.
GPD spokesman Ben Tobias said Chesser was diagnosed with several mental disorders and is on psychotropic medications.
Police booked Chesser into the Alachua County Jail at 11:18 p.m. Saturday, where he remained Sunday with a $30,000 bond.
Tobias said Nero and the officers were not injured during the incident.
“This incident could have ended a lot worse,” he said. “We are happy that officers were able to subdue Chesser before he was able to seriously injure or kill anyone.”
Contact Kathryn Varn at kvarn@alligator.org.
