Update: As of Aug. 16, 2019, all charges have been dismissed.
A UF employee was charged Monday by Gainesville Police with battery and false imprisonment of his girlfriend for a July 13 incident.
Brian Joseph Fischbach, 37, got into an argument with his girlfriend at his house that Saturday evening, resulting in the woman saying she wanted to leave. Fischbach took her phone and car keys to prevent her from leaving or calling 911, according to a GPD report.
Fischbach then grabbed the woman and held her down on the bed. When the woman screamed for help, he covered her mouth and shoved her head into the mattress, according to the report. The woman told police the incident lasted for about three hours.
A warrant was issued for Fischbach’s arrest. He was arrested and charged with battery, false imprisonment and preventing communications with law enforcement. The two latter charges are both felonies.
Fischbach is employed at UF as a data management analyst, according to UF spokesperson Steve Orlando. He has worked at UF since May 2015 at the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute at 2004 Mowry Road.
Fischbach posted a $45,000 bail on Monday and was released. He is still employed by UF as of publishing, Orlando said. Fischbach could not be reached for comment.
Fischbach
