George Zimmerman arrested AGAIN: Here's a history of his police encounters since 2013 alone

By Fusion Staff  |  January 10, 2015 | 4:52pm
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Late Friday morning, George Zimmerman, the man who killed unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012, was arrested on aggravated assault charges near Orlando.

He is accused of throwing a wine bottle at his girlfriend. He was booked on aggravated assault charges Saturday, with his bond set at $5,000, and he’s been ordered to turn in any firearms.

Since his July 2013 acquittal in the killing of Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman has refused to retire quietly from the public eye. Rather than go off the grid, the 31-year-old has continued a semi-public life in central Florida, scraping by selling paintings, appearing at gun shows, and eking out a living however possible.

He’s also racked up at least seven more accusations of criminal behavior. Here’s a breakdown:

Friday, Jan. 9, 2015: domestic disturbance with a girlfriend

What allegedly happened: Early last week, according to the Orlando Sentinel, Zimmerman got in a fight with his current girlfriend and allegedly threw a wine bottle at her. This happened in Lake Mary, Florida, just a few minutes from Sanford, where Trayvon was shot. For the most part, Zimmerman has remained in a small geographical radius in Central Florida .

The result: The story is still developing. But so far, even though the incident didn’t involve a gun, Volusia County judge John Galluzzo has ordered Zimmerman to turn over his firearms. The next court date for this charge is on Feb. 17.

September 10, 2014: a road rage fight

What allegedly happened: After an ostensible slight in traffic, Zimmerman allegedly pulled up next to a fellow driver and threatened him, then followed him to a Circle K parking lot. He allegedly asked the other driver, “Do you know who I am?” Two days later, that other driver called police when he noticed Zimmerman in his truck outside his workplace.

The result: The other driver involved, who wished to remain anonymous, decided not to press charges, and Zimmerman again escaped arrest.

November 18, 2013: domestic disturbance with a girlfriend

What allegedly happened: Zimmerman’s then-girlfriend, Samantha Scheibe, called police in Apopka, Florida, saying he had entered her home, breaking her things, and pointing a shotgun at her during an argument.

The result: Scheibe decided she wanted the case dropped.

September 9, 2013: domestic disturbance with his estranged wife and father-in-law

What allegedly happened: George’s estranged then-wife, Shellie Zimmerman, called police saying George had punched her father, smashed her belongings, and threatened her and her father with a gun.

The result: Authorities claimed Shellie’s iPad, which she was allegedly using to record video of the incident, was damaged irreparably during the fight, killing most of the concrete evidence. Shellie also decided not to pursue the case further, claiming she wanted to just be done with the divorce and end her marriage “with a whimper and not a bang.”

September 4, 2013: speeding ticket

What allegedly happened: Police in Lake Mary clocked Zimmerman going 60 in a 45-mph zone.

The result: Not much. This time around, he didn’t have a weapon in his car.

August 19, 2013: traffic stop

What allegedly happened: A Florida Highway Patrol officer in Brevard County pulled Zimmerman over for having too-dark window tints and an obscured license plate.

The result: Nothing much. He told the officer he had tinted his windows because he was receiving death threats. The stop was filed as a “courtesy warning,” and Zimmerman didn’t have to pay any fines or change his tints.

July 2013: traffic stop in Texas

What allegedly happened: Police pulled Zimmerman over for speeding in Forney, Texas, outside of Dallas. Dashcam video of the stop shows the officer warning Zimmerman, “Don’t play with your firearm, okay?”

The result: Zimmerman got off with a verbal warning. Nobody ever really explained what he was doing in Texas.

It’s also worth mentioning that Zimmerman was accused of assault and abuse twice prior to Martin’s death.

Arielle Castillo is Fusion’s culture editor, reporting on arts, music, culture, and subcultures from the streets on up. She’s also a connoisseur of weird Florida, weightlifting, and cats.

Rob covers business, economics and the environment for Fusion. He previously worked at Business Insider. He grew up in Chicago.

 
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