CROSS CITY, Florida — An Alachua County sheriff’s deputy was taken into custody early Friday morning after authorities accused him of physically attacking multiple women and threatening to shoot a crowd gathered at a home.
Leviticus Murray, who is employed as a deputy with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, was arrested by the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to a residence located on Northeast 234th Avenue at approximately 3:37 a.m. following reports of a verbal altercation involving a man and several women.
According to the arrest report, witnesses stated Murray had been at a establishment in Fanning Springs earlier that night before being picked up by friends. One woman informed investigators that she was preparing to travel to a hospital because she believed she was going into labor when Murray requested to stop at another home.
The situation escalated outside the residence after Murray allegedly began flirting with another woman. Witnesses told law enforcement that Murray grew aggressive when bystanders attempted to intervene.
One victim stated that Murray grabbed her by the hair and neck before striking her near her ribs. A second woman reported that Murray grabbed her by the neck, shoved her against an automobile, and subsequently threw her to the ground. A third woman told investigators that Murray punched her with a closed fist after she ordered him to stop fighting.
Multiple witnesses reported that Murray threatened to shoot everyone present during the physical dispute before fleeing the area on foot. Because all individuals involved knew Murray worked as a law enforcement officer and typically carried a weapon, they told deputies they believed he was armed at the time and feared he would execute the threats.
Deputies searching the surrounding area discovered Murray walking nearby. The report notes that Murray identified himself as an Alachua County deputy and claimed he had been attacked. He also informed the responding deputies that he did not possess a firearm at that moment, stating his weapons were secured at his residence. A police K-9 unit conducted a search of the vicinity but did not locate any firearms.
Investigating deputies documented physical injuries and gathered formal statements from the individuals at the scene before transporting Murray to the Dixie County Jail.
Murray faces multiple criminal charges, including aggravated assault and battery, stemming from the alleged choking, threats, and physical violence. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office was formally notified of the arrest and has placed Murray on administrative leave pending the results of an internal investigation into the matter.
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