A man accused of threatening to cut someone’s eyes out with a piece of metal was arrested by Gainesville Police Monday night.
Joel Micah Wheeler, 36, of Gainesville, is accused of pulling out a thin, 5-inch wide and 12-inch long piece of metal twice during an argument with a man by the Miami Grill below The Standard, at 50 NW 13th St., according to an arrest report.
Wheeler was arguing with the man on West University Avenue when he pointed the piece of metal an inch away from the man’s face, the report said. The man told police he thought the metal was a knife, police said.
The man ran toward Miami Grill in fear, but Wheeler followed him to continue arguing. He pulled out the metal again and threatened to “cut his eyes out,” the report said.
Police searched Wheeler’s backpack and found three long pieces of metal. While in custody, Wheeler admitted to arguing with the man and confronting him with the metal, the report said.
Wheeler was charged with aggravated assault. He is held in Alachua County Jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond.
Contact Amanda Rosa at arosa@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @AmandaNicRosa
Joel Micah Wheeler
