A Gainesville man has been charged with battery and lewd exhibition after an altercation with three minors Saturday night. The incident took place inside and outside a McDonalds located at 2880 NW 13th St.
According to an arrest report from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, William Heath, 47, entered the McDonalds around 9 p.m. and walked to the front counter. A 17-year-old and two 15-year-olds were seated together inside the dining area.
The teenagers glanced in Heath’s direction, and Heath became “visibly agitated,” according to the arrest report. He then walked over to the teenagers’ table, and a verbal argument ensued.
During the argument, Heath allegedly threw a cup of Dr. Pepper at the teens, splashing two of them with the soda. Heath left the building and laid in the bushes next to a sidewalk, according to the report. The teenagers followed Heath outside, continuing the argument.
A witness reported observing the incident from her car. She told law enforcement she witnessed Heath throw the soda, lay in the bushes outside and claim he had been punched. She states the teenagers didn’t initiate any physical altercation.
The witness approached Heath and the teenagers in an attempt to defuse the situation, according to the report. Heath continued to shout obscenely at the teenagers about race and sexuality. He eventually turned around, lowered his pants and exposed his buttocks.
Videos taken by the teenagers show Heath smacking his buttocks and rubbing his left butt cheek in front of them.
After his arrest around 10 p.m., Heath admitted to throwing soda at the teenagers and exposing his buttocks toward them. He told law enforcement he did so because he felt “upset and insulted,” according to the arrest report.
Contact Vanessa Norris at vnorris@alligator.org. Follow her on X @vanessajnorris.
