Gainesville Police arrested a local man Sunday afternoon after he reportedly stabbed another man over a fight about cigarettes.
At about 2 p.m. at Grace Marketplace, Reginald Climpson, 55, began arguing with Aaron Russell III over who owned a pack of cigarettes.
Russell hit Climpson in the face before Climpson pulled out a 4-inch pocket knife, according to a police report.
Climpson then stabbed Russell multiple times in the chest and once above the eye, according to the report.
When police arrived, Russell had several small stab wounds on his torso, neck and hands. He also had one small stab wound above his right eye as well as swelling and a cut on his left eye, according to the report.
A witness told police he saw Russell grab Climpson by the throat before the two began to punch each other, according to the report.
He didn’t see Climpson’s knife but did see Russell covered in blood after the fight.
After his arrest, Climpson told police he got into a fist fight with Russell but did not stab him or use a knife, according to the report.
Russell’s injuries were non-life-threatening, Gainesville Police spokesman Officer Ben Tobias wrote in an email.
Police arrested Climpson on a charge of aggravated battery. Officers took him to the Alachua County Jail, where he remained as of press time in lieu of a $10,000 bond.
