Man Charged by GPD and ACSO for Battery and Kidnapping Incident

Gregory Ahmad Pettway, 24, was arrested on Thursday and charged with kidnapping by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) and then charged with robbery and aggravated battery by the Gainesville Police Department (GPD).

The victim told ACSO that Pettway was giving her a ride to her workplace when he saw people in the road who he had problems with. Pettway exited the vehicle but did not approach them. The victim had to persuade Pettway to get back inside the vehicle. When Pettway reentered, the victim asked to exit the vehicle, but Pettway reportedly locked the doors and began speeding at 80 miles per hour on NW 39 Ave, only stopping when getting close to her place of work on University Ave.

The victim told GPD that after arriving in the parking lot, Pettway exited the vehicle, started screaming at her, and punched the metal between her and the car door. When the victim exited the vehicle, Pettway grabbed her phone from her hands, causing a struggle when she tried to get it back. Pettway began punching the victim, and she bit him in self-defense, allowing her to get her phone back and get away.

Pettway reportedly “admitted to snatching the phone out of [the victim’s] hand,” but claimed she “battered him.”

Pettway was released on recognizance under the order that he not contact the victim.