Man caught intruding by evidence of cigarette light
Gainesville Police arrested a Gainesville man Tuesday after they said he entered a home — despite the owner’s injunction against him — and hid in a closet, where he was later found with a lit cigarette.
The injunction, spurred by domestic violence, required James West, 28, to stay 500 feet away from the woman’s home, according to a police report.
The woman called police after she saw West. He returned at about 10 p.m. and burglarized her home, according to the report.
Police arrived and saw West run into a back room, where he then hid under a pile of clothes in the closet, according to the report. Officers found West after he lit a cigarette.
While in handcuffs, West started to yell and twist, trying to break free from the officers’ hold. Police then restrained his legs.
West also has open charges for the domestic dispute, along with marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Alachua County court records.
Police arrested West on charges of burglary and resisting an officer, along with two charges for violating the injunction.
Authorities took him to the Alachua County Jail where, as of press time, he re mains in lieu of a $145,000 bond.
Hawthorne man punches neighbor in front yard
Gainesville Police arrested a Hawthorne, Florida, man Tuesday afternoon after police said he fought his neighbor.
At about 3 p.m., James Lawrence, 48, stood in his neighbor’s yard at Hawthorne Estates and spoke with the 71-year-old man, according to a police report.
The conversation eventually turned into an argument, and Lawrence began to punch the man several times, according to the report.
Emergency Medical Services transported his neighbor to the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center for multiple cuts and bruises, according to the report. Lawrence was not injured.
Since 2004, Lawrence has been found guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in two separate incidents, according to Alachua County court records.
Lawrence refused to be placed in handcuffs, and an officer then used a Taser on him, according to the report.
The struggle left the officer with a small scrape on the pinky of his right hand, according to the report.
Police arrested Lawrence on charges of aggravated battery on a person 65 years of age or older, resisting arrest with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer.
Authorities took him to the Alachua County Jail where, as of press time, he remains in lieu of a $75,000 bond.
Man steals electronics from Gainesville woman
Police arrested a Gainesville man Tuesday afternoon after they said he entered a home and stole an Xbox 360 gaming system, four games, two prescriptions and other items at the end of April.
At about 10 p.m. on April 28, Antonio Green, 33, entered a woman’s apartment in the 1100 block of NW 39th Ave., according to a police report.
Green stole a TV from a bedroom, the Xbox 360 and games from her living room and prescriptions from her kitchen, according to the report. The items are worth a total of about $205.
Three days later, he sold the TV—valued at $125—for $25 at Value Pawn and Jewelry on Main Street, according to the report. Green signed his name and provided a thumb print. Police later questioned Green, who said he bought the TV in order to sell it. He later said a man named Julian stole the TV from the woman’s home while she was sleeping.
The Xbox 360 was later found at the home of Green’s sister, and he eventually admitted to taking the woman’s property, according to the report.
Police arrested Green on charges of larceny, fraud and dealing in stolen property. Authorities took him to the Alachua County Jail where he was released Wednesday afternoon on a $45,000 bond.
Follow Sara on Twitter: @saradmarino
Email: smarino@alligator.org
