RTS Driver Shuts Bus Doors on Knife Attacker
Charlie Jerome Bragg, 59, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer without violence.
While at a bus stop, Bragg reportedly tapped the victim on the shoulder and became erratic when she told him not to touch her.
Bragg reportedly pulled out a pocket knife and said, “Tell whoever you got to, I’ll kill you.”
The victim began moving away from Bragg to get on a bus that just arrived. Bragg lunged at the victim with his knife, and she blocked him with her arm.
The victim was able to get on the bus, and the RTS driver closed the doors so Bragg wouldn’t get in. Bragg fled the area on foot.
Gainesville Police Department (GPD) Officer Brandon Mills observed Bragg walking along SE 4th Ave.
Mills began running after Bragg with Officers Mateo Rico, Kevin Jin, and Casey Walsh with her K-9 Stern.
Last March, Walsh allowed Stern to attack an innocent homeless woman after mistaking her for a domestic battery suspect.
The officers caught Bragg on 3rd Street and reportedly found a knife on him.
A witness told police Bragg yelled “I will cut you” before trying to stab the victim.
Bragg said he was “sorry” and claimed he “wasn’t going to do anything” with the knife.
Bragg has no bond pending a pretrial detention motion by the State Attorney's Office.
