TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee man has been arrested after police say he tried to break into a hotel room with a knife and randomly attacked a victim when he couldn't get in.
William Reynolds III, 32, was arrested by the Tallahassee Police Department on Nov. 24.
On Nov. 24 at about 11:18 a.m., a TPD officer was called to Budget Inn on West Tennessee Street for a report of a man that was armed with a knife and trying to kick in a hotel room door.
When the officer arrived on scene, Reynolds spotted him and dropped the knife in an attempt to hide it. According to the police report, the officer immediately pulled out his gun and told Reynolds to get on the ground, who eventually complied.
While on the ground, the officer saw another large knife in Reynolds' back pocket. As the officer was waiting for backup to arrive, Reynolds suddenly jumped to his feet and began to run away from the officer.
As he was running, a third knife fell from Reynolds and the officer had to use his taser to detain Reynolds.
When other officers arrived on scene, they talked with one of the victims of the attempted burglary. The victim told officers that he and another victim had gone to a room to watch TV. After about 5 to 10 minutes, they left and began to approach a walkway, where they were confronted by a unknown man.
According to the victim, the man, later identified as Reynolds, jumped on the victim "like a spider." The victim was somehow cut in the process, but stated he was unsure if he was cut by a knife.
When officers talked with Reynolds, he told them he came to the Budget Inn to get back his wallet that was stolen from a woman. He said he took the three kitchen knives with him because he didn't know what he may be walking into.
After no one answered the door where the woman was supposed to be staying, Reynolds turned around to leave. That's when he came across the two victims.
Documents say he told police he almost bumped into one of the victims and that the victim became verbally aggressive, but no physical altercation took place.
Reynolds told police it was "common practice" for him to carry knives for protection and told officers he had it in his hand for that reason, but wouldn't tell officers what he needed protection from.
Based on the evidence gathered, Reynolds is being charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, and resisting arrest without violence.
He was taken to the Leon County Detention Facility and his bond has been set at $11,000.
