A man suspected of threatening his ex-girlfriend with a gun surrendered after an about two-hour standoff near Newberry, Florida, deputies said.
The woman was returning from work Wednesday when Matthew Carter Wells, 36, of Gainesville, appeared from the corner of her apartment building, near Southwest 145 Street in Jonesville, according to an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office arrest report and ACSO Lieutenant Brett Rhodenizer.
He was ordered not to contact her after he was found guilty for biting her in November 2018, according to court records.
Wells wanted to talk to her before he went to rehab, the report said. They went into her apartment. After, the woman went to bed and Wells stayed in her apartment.
When she woke up during the night, Wells was being belligerent and threatened to kill her and himself, the report said. He shoved her 9mm handgun into her mouth.
She kicked Wells away and banged on the wall for help, the report said. She didn’t know where the gun went, but she kept fighting him.
After the fight, the victim texted her supervisor for help and then deleted the message, the report said. She told Wells she was texting her supervisor that she couldn’t go to work Thursday.
At about 8:40 a.m., deputies arrived at the complex after her coworkers notified them, said Rhodenizer.
When deputies knocked on her door, she told Wells to see who it was, the report said. He told her it was the police, covered her with a blanket and told her to be quiet. When Wells hid in a closet she left the apartment.
The ACSO SWAT team was then sent to negotiate with Wells, Rhodenizer said. He peacefully surrendered at about 10:40 a.m.
Wells had an active warrant after he failed to appear at orientation for probation for the biting incident, according to court records.
Wells was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, domestic violence and possession of a firearm.
Wells remained in the Alachua County Jail on Thursday. His bond will be set Friday.
Contact Katherine Wallace-Fernandez at kwallace-fernandez@alligator.organd follow her on Twitter @katwf98.
Wells
