VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A man accused of randomly attacking and slashing a 13-year-old boy’s throat in Daytona Beach on Saturday will remain in jail while awaiting trial for another violent act.
On Thursday, a judge ordered Jermaine Long, 44, to be held under pre-trial detention in a case where police said Long chased and hit a man with a sledgehammer.
According to court records, the incident happened earlier in the day, but Long was initially let go and given a trespass warning.
During Thursday’s hearing, Long’s attorney didn’t object to the state’s request for pre-trial detention.
“It’s our belief that this was in his best interest to stipulate to the state’s motion,” Steven Robinson said.
When police arrested Long Saturday night after the attack on the teen, it was their third time that day responding to incidents involving him in the area around the Boardwalk and Main Street.
Daytona Beach police reports show that on Saturday, Long was trespassed from a location on South Hollywood Avenue around 8 a.m.
Three and a half hours later, police were called again — this time to a 7-Eleven near the Boardwalk, where Long allegedly chased a man and hit him with a sledgehammer. Officers spoke with both Long and the victim but did not make an arrest, instead trespassing Long from the area.
About 11 hours later, police received a call that Long had randomly attacked and slashed a 13-year-old boy’s throat near the Slingshot ride.
[VIDEO: Man accused of slashing 13-year-old had violent incident earlier that day in Daytona Beach]
Long was taken to jail on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Two days later, police filed charges related to the sledgehammer incident.
Records show Long was released from jail four days before Saturday’s incidents.
[WATCH BELOW: Family seeks answers after son’s neck slashed in Daytona Beach by man recently released from jail]
Robinson said both cases appear to be moving forward with a not-guilty plea.
“My client has indicated that he’s innocent and that’s what we’re going to believe,” Robinson said.
Pre-trial for the case that involved a sledgehammer was set for April 1.
Long is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on the throat-slashing case on March 10.
On Thursday, the police department released the following statement regarding Long’s arrest:
“On February 14 at approximately 7:58 a.m., officers with the Daytona Beach Police Department encountered Jermaine Long at a property where the owner asked that he be removed. Officers issued a trespass warning, where he was formally notified, he could not return to the property. At that time, there was not enough evidence to arrest him, so he was released.
Around 11:30 a.m. that same day, officers responded to a disturbance at the 7-Eleven at 35 South Atlantic Avenue. Mr. Long was accused of hitting someone in the head with a hammer, earlier in the day, after an argument. Officers investigated and spoke with both parties. However, because the alleged victim did not fully cooperate and there was not enough evidence to legally justify an immediate arrest, Mr. Long was not taken into custody. The store clerk requested that law enforcement trespass Mr. Long from the establishment due to prior retail theft. It should be noted that the victim of this incident did not have any major injuries.
Later, on February 14, officers responded to 18 South Ocean Avenue after receiving reports of a stabbing. This time, witnesses provided statements, the victim fully cooperated, and officers observed physical evidence at the scene. Based on that information, police had sufficient legal grounds to make an arrest. Mr. Long was located and arrested for Aggravated Battery.
After further review of the prior incident, involving the hammer, investigators worked with the State Attorney’s Office and determined there was enough overall evidence to file an additional Aggravated Battery charge, even without the victim’s cooperation. As a result of the added charge, Mr. Long is now being held without bond. Initially, bond had been set at $50,000 in connection with the stabbing case.
The department will not release body-worn camera footage at this time. Under Florida Statutes 119.01(3), 119.071(2)(c), and 119.011(3)(d), information related to active criminal investigations and pending prosecutions is exempt from public disclosure.
The department has also begun an internal review of the investigation. This type of review is standard practice with complex investigations. No additional details will be released until the review is complete."
Daytona Beach Police Department