Gainesville Police arrested mayoral candidate Donald E. Shepherd Sr. after police said he stole a truck in August.
Christina Fisher, 29, first reported the theft of her grandmother’s 1991 Ford F-150 pickup truck to GPD on Aug. 31. Frances Crethers, the victim’s grandmother and the original owner of the truck, died from lymphoma last year at the age of 90.
The truck was transferred to Fisher’s uncle, who then transferred it to Fisher and her husband, according to a police report.
The day after her grandmother’s funeral, while cleaning out her former apartment, Fisher met Shephard for the first time, she said. Fisher said Shepherd was trying to take advantage of the situation for personal gain.
“The only thing he really did was try to loot the place,” Fisher said. “He didn’t really try to help.”
When the issue of the truck came up, Fisher said, Shepherd repeatedly asked the family if he could have the truck. The family refused, stating the truck belonged with them.
Fisher noticed the truck was missing Aug. 28, and she went to Shepherd’s house the following day. The truck was parked in his driveway by his minivan, according to the report.
Fisher took a photograph of Shepherd standing by the truck, which would lead to his arrest.
Police released him when they ruled there was not enough evidence to hold him, Fisher said police told her. He was arrested again today.
Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Pam Carpenter said the charges would not disqualify Shepherd as a mayoral candidate.
“In order to qualify to run for office in the city, you need to be a registered voter and you need to have been a resident of the district or the city for the specified amount of time,” she said. “Mr. Shepherd has met those criteria.”
Shepherd previously ran for a city commission seat in 2014 and 2015, but lost both elections. Prior to that, Shepherd came in fifth behind current Gainesville Mayor Ed Braddy in the 2013 mayoral election.
Shepherd, who was released from the Alachua County Jail Wednesday morning shortly after his arrest on his own recognizance, called the accusations baseless in an interview outside his mobile home.
“I’m a Christian man,” he said, standing with his wife, Nancy. “I’m not a thief.”
With the truck still missing, Fisher said Shephard probably sold it for scrap metal. Shepherd said he would never steal from a friend.
Nancy, Shepherd’s wife, said she and Donald knew Crethers since about 2004.
She said they helped her find an apartment and took her to hospital visits.
“We were close friends,” she said about. “We did things together, I helped her get to the doctor.”
But Fisher said the friendship wasn’t normal. The couple, she alleged, would cajole Crethers into buying them expensive dinners in exchange for their hospital visits.
“We never thought this would happen,” Nancy said about the charge.
Shepherd said he was worried the allegations may negatively affect his run for mayor.
“I worry that it’s going to affect me seeking mayor, yes, because… when people see this they lose faith in me. And that’s the biggest and strongest thing you could ever have is faith.”
Shepherd said he would continue to fight for social and financial equality and unite the city commission if elected.
“I have the faith... the knowledge of how to change this city around for the better,” he said.
Braddy, who is running for reelection against Shepherd, said he was surprised about the charge, saying “knowing him I would think there has to be a misunderstanding somewhere.”
Braddy described Shepherd as “one of the most decent and likeable people” he’s met in local politics and urged voters to focus on issues facing the city rather than the charges.
“I would just ask everyone give him space and let him deal with the situation,” Braddy said.
Lauren Poe, who is also seeking the mayoral election, echoed Braddy’s opinion.
“I’ve known Donald for many years,” he said. “He’s probably our most consistent participant in city commission meetings and you never would think somebody would allegedly do something like this.”
Poe said he doesn’t think the charges will affect Shepherd’s run for mayor.
He also said he would not jump to judge Shepherd, saying the law permits a person as innocent until proven guilty.
“I’m going to afford him that full benefit and what our legal system can offer him and not pass judgement on him,” Poe said.
Shepherd fought back tears on his front lawn as he heard some of the more direct allegations against him, mainly that he stole the truck because he was “money-hungry,” as Fisher quoted her grandmother as saying.
“I’m not that type of person,” Shepherd said.
Alligator Staff Writer Hunter Williamson contributed to this report.
Gainesville mayoral candidate Donald Shepherd Sr. (right) and his wife, Nancy, speak outside his Gainesville home Wednesday afternoon. Gainesville Police say he stole a truck in August, and arrested him Wednesday morning.
