Gainesville Man Arrested for Battering Disabled Family Member
Demetrius Lashod Cunningham, 26, was arrested last week and charged with abusing a disabled person, resisting an officer without violence and two counts of battery on specified personnel.
Cunningham’s family member, who is unresponsive on the left side of her body due to a previous stroke, was giving Cunningham a ride from the Value Lodge. He reportedly threatened to kill her because he didn’t like the route she was taking. The victim stopped the car and told Cunningham to get out. Cunningham declined, and the victim stepped out of the vehicle. Cunningham reportedly approached the victim and punched her multiple times before throwing her to the ground.
The victim had visible bruises and abrasions across her body.
A witness driving behind the victim’s vehicle saw Cunningham hit the victim and throw her to the ground.
Gainesville Police Department Officer Pablo Figueroa arrested Cunningham at the Value Lodge. Figueroa reported that Cunningham “denied he struck the victim. [Cunningham] stated he was at Rosa Parks Bus Station when the victim picked him up. [Cunningham] stated they were trying to find a place to eat. [Cunningham] stated he didn't hit anybody, even when [I] observed blood on his right hand. [Cunningham] was constantly imploring [me] to help him because he was recently released from jail and was on supervised release. While [I] was transporting [Cunningham] to [jail], [he] intentionally spat on the back of my head three times. Multiple GPD officers responded and had to restrain [Cunningham’s] legs because he was combative. [Cunningham] bit Ofc. [John] Konstantis' left thumb and spat on his face. At [the jail], [Cunningham] spat on [Konstantis] for the second time…. [While at the jail], [Cunningham] kept his combative behavior and spat on [Konstantis] for a third time when [he] was being transported to his detention cell.
Cunningham’s bond is set at $215,000.
Cunningham was also charged with violating his probation for a 2023 case where he was convicted of resisting an officer without violence and two counts of battery on an officer.
