Crime & Safety
Alachua County, FL Burglary: 15-Year-Old Arrested After Attack
Waldo, FL – A 15 year old was arrested after allegedly grabbing a resident by the throat&…
By Mason Reid · 2026-09-10T18:06:18.391Z
Waldo, FL – A 15 year old was arrested after allegedly grabbing a resident by the throat and pushing the victim to the ground during a burglary investigation Wednesday in Waldo, northeast of Gainesville.
According to the Alachua County Sheriff& 39;s Office, deputies responded Wednesday afternoon to a home in the 14400 block of Northeast 153rd Avenue after receiving a report of a burglary.
Authorities said the juvenile allegedly knocked on the victim& 39;s door and had a brief interaction with the resident after the door was opened. The teen then allegedly grabbed the victim by the throat and pushed the person to the ground, according to deputies. The victim began screaming, and the alleged attacker fled on foot.
Multiple deputies responded, established a perimeter and conducted a K 9 track in an effort to locate the suspect.
Investigators said they observed inflammation on the victim& 39;s body that corroborated the victim& 39;s account. Deputies later identified a 15 year old who was reportedly staying at a nearby residence.
Authorities contacted the juvenile& 39;s guardians and searched the home where he was staying. Detectives and crime scene analysts allegedly found evidence linking the teen to the incident.
A witness also reported seeing a young person matching the description acting suspiciously nearby before deputies arrived, according to the sheriff& 39;s office.
A deputy later spotted the juvenile walking a short distance away. Following what authorities described as a positive identification, the teen was arrested and taken to the Juvenile Detention Center.
The juvenile was charged with burglary with assault or battery and battery by strangulation. The allegations have not been proven in court.