U.S. Marshals arrested a violent fugitive Monday in Gainesville after tracking him for six days.
The Gainesville Police Department issued an arrest warrant for John-Paul Sampson, 28, on Feb. 14 on charges of aggravated stalking of a female after she filed a no-contact order against him. They handed the case over to U.S. Marshals eight days later because of Sampson’s violent history, according to deputy U.S. Marshal Bryon Carroll.
According to the GPD investigation, Sampson was sitting in his car in the victim’s parking lot at 10 p.m. on Feb. 14. When the victim arrived in her car and spotted Sampson, she drove away. Sampson followed her “bumper to bumper” for 3 miles, cursing and yelling at her to pull over. He tried to cut her off but she continued to drive. He then stopped following her, and she alerted authorities.
In August, Sampson was arrested in Gainesville on charges of battery and domestic abuse. He also regularly carried firearms, Carroll said, adding that Sampson had been sleeping at different places in the city every night
Marshals obtained information Monday morning that Sampson was staying with a female friend on Southwest 20th Ave. Carroll said about eight task force members surrounded the apartment complex and arrested Sampson at approximately 2:45 p.m.
Carroll said Sampson did not put up a fight while they handcuffed him.
Contact Adrianna Paidas at apaidas@alligator.org.
