A confrontation between
Gators football players and a group of Gainesville men had been brewing for months, according to a police report.
GAINESVILLE — A late May confrontation between UF football players and a group of local men had brewed for months, according to a report from the Gainesville Police Department.
The report shows several Gator football players and local residents their age had engaged in conflicts dating to February. One of them turned violent at a local mall.
On Monday night, First Coast News in Jacksonville was the first to report GPD’s involvement in the matter.
Tensions escalated during a May 28 confrontation on campus when two Gators brandished Airsoft guns resembling assault-style rifles. According to a campus police report, a baseball bat, frying pan and rocks also were brought to a fight that left six UF players facing a review by the student conduct board.
The group of players includes senior tight end C’yontai Lewis, who at one time was friends with the leader of the other group, Devante Zachery, a 21-year-old Gainesville resident known as “Tay Bang.”
Zachery filed a report last week with the Gainesville Police Department that gave further details on the fractious relationship with the Gators.
In the report, Zachery told GPD he had a good relationship with Lewis and linebacker Vosean Joseph and would give UF players discounts at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, where Zachery worked. If true, this could violate NCAA rules.
UF officials said they are aware of the conflict.
“We understand GPD has followed up last week’s UPD report with a background report that has Devante Zachery [aka Tay Bangs] as its primary source,” UF spokesman Steve McClain said. “We are not aware if there will be any additional information provided by GPD on this matter. Anytime we get information involving our student athletes, we look into it.”
The relationship between Lewis and Zachery seemingly turned sour when the Gators began to lose during last year’s 4-7 season. Zachery reportedly bet on the team’s games and complained to Lewis and other UF players when the Gators lost.
After multiple confrontations between the groups in February and again in May, Zachery told police wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland was knocked out July 4 by one of Zachery’s friends at a Gainesville night club, according to the report.
Zachery told GPD he was not present and would not tell police who hit Cleveland. According to the report, Zachery also told police he feared for his safety and had received threatening calls and texts. He also said women who knew players had tried to lure him to their location.
Zachery said he wanted to meet and end the tensions with UF’s players, but told police Lewis said the incident with Cleveland had ended any chance for resolution.
Ten Gators were questioned and nine were involved during the May 28 incident. Six players were referred to UF’s Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution department.
According to the report, Zachary insisted to police UF receiver Kadarius Toney, one of the players scheduled to face the conduct board, had an actual assault-style rifle on May 28.
Based on another GPD report, dated July 22, Toney was pulled over for a seat belt violation and found to have a black rifle in his back seat. Toney was with safety Brian Edwards and initially tried to elude police before stopping. Each player was questioned and handcuffed, but were released because neither have a criminal history.