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Tuesday, January 28, 2025

A Gainesville woman was arrested Wednesday after police said she chased two people with a butcher knife and then tried to kick and spit on an officer.

Chiquita Maria Johnson began arguing with Kanika Kehindi Demps and Latoya Monique Louise King at about 4:30 p.m. near Demps’ residence, located at 2436 NW 4th Terrace. The 26-year-old then walked to her nearby home, went inside and came out clutching a 10-inch blade, according to a police report.

Johnson paced back and forth in front of her home, still holding the knife. She then walked over to Demps and King and began arguing with them again. Johnson raised the knife over her shoulder “in preparation to perform a stabbing motion,” according to the report.

Demps and King told police they were afraid Johnson would kill them.

Johnson then started running toward Demps while still gripping the knife, according to the report. Demps grabbed a wooden stick to defend herself from Johnson, who was still chasing her with the knife.

Eventually Johnson threw the knife in Demps’ direction and went back home.

When police arrived shortly before 5:30 p.m., Johnson was yelling profanities, ignoring police commands and wrenching her body away from police. Once inside the patrol car, Johnson started kicking the back window. She also yelled at the officer and tried to spit on him,  according to the report.

Police had to put a spit mask over Johnson’s mouth and restrained her. She managed to get out of the spit mask and restraints and began kicking and spitting at the officer again. The officer had to stop his car and restrain Johnson for a second time before she was taken to jail.

Johnson was arrested on two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intention to kill and one charge of resisting an officer with violence. She is currently being held on a $75,000 bond.

Johnson has been arrested in the past on similar charges. According to Alachua County records, on April 1, 2008, she was arrested on charges of resisting an officer with and without violence, assault on an officer and driving with a suspended license.

On July 21, 2010, Johnson was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of a crash, driving with a suspended license, driving under the influence, disturbing the peace, criminal mischief, battery, battery on an officer, resisting an officer without violence and resisting an officer with violence.

[A version of this story ran on page 1 on 12/5/2014]

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