Staff Reports
An armed disgruntled former employee refused to leave a Lake City Holiday Inn and resisted arrest on Monday night.
According to a Lake City Police Department (LCPD) release, an officer arrested Zachary Taylor Gibson, 26, of White Springs, on multiple charges after being dispatched at 10:25 p.m. to the Holiday Inn at 213 SW Commercial Drive to the report of a person trespassing.
When the officer arrived, management informed the officer of an ex-employee who was refusing to leave the premises. The officer spoke to Gibson in the office area behind the hotel’s front desk and told Gibson he needed to leave the premises. Gibson refused and said he would not go until he discussed with management the reason for his termination.
The Holiday Inn management told the officer they would not discuss the termination decision and that Gibson was disrupting the business’s operations and needed to leave.
The officer then explained to Gibson that his options were either leaving the premises or being arrested for trespass. Gibson still refused to leave and resisted the officer’s attempts to place Gibson’s hands behind his back. Gibson shoved the officer away and the officer used his taser on Gibson.
The taser was ineffective on Gibson, who then ran at the officer. The officer forcibly took Gibson to the ground and placed him in handcuffs. After being placed in handcuffs, the officer discovered a loaded firearm in Gibson’s pocket.
Gibson was charged with armed trespass, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence and carrying a concealed firearm. He was booked into the Columbia County Detention Center after being treated for minor injuries.