Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO

Businesses, FBI find home at Celebration Pointe

By Angela DiMichele | May 16, 2018

Celebration Pointe announced Monday that its newest five-story office building is fully leased.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GPD celebrates Peace Officers Memorial Day

By Devoun Cetoute | May 15, 2018

Gainesville Police honored the sacrifice and service of fallen police officers today on Peace Officers Memorial Day.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GPD: Armed robbery suspect still at large

By Devoun Cetoute | May 15, 2018

Gainesville police are searching for an unknown assailant who held a man at gunpoint between 1000 and 1400 NW 13th St. Monday night.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Unidentified shooter on W. University Ave.

By Jessica Curbelo | May 14, 2018

A man was shot early Saturday morning after reportedly being involved in a dispute near UF campus. Gainesville Police is currently searching for the shooter, according to a press release.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Man charged with sexual battery after altercation in Circle K bathroom

By Devoun Cetoute | May 14, 2018

Gainesville Police arrested a man accused of attempting to rape a woman at a Circle K convenience store, located at 2152 NW 39th Ave., on Saturday evening.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Man dead after motorcycle crash on US Highway 441

By Jessica Curbelo | May 14, 2018

A collision left a man dead on the intersection of U.S. Highway 441 and County Road 234 on Sunday afternoon.

Credit-card skimmer in 2017 at a Texaco gas pump on NE Waldo Rd, as part of "Operation Clean Sweep"

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF researchers develop ‘Skim Reaper’, public use to come

By Dana Cassidy | May 14, 2018

UF researchers have developed an anti-theft device called the “Skim Reaper” to reduce incidents of stolen credit card information.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GPD: Man, woman charged with credit card fraud

By Devoun Cetoute | May 14, 2018

Gainesville Police arrested a man and a woman accused of spending $1,021.18 on a stolen credit card in fewer than two hours Friday.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GPD: Man shot early morning near Kava Lounge

By Jessica Curbelo | May 12, 2018

A man was shot early Saturday morning after reportedly being involved in a dispute near the UF campus. The Gainesville Police Department is currently searching for the shooter, according to the police report.

The only Whole Foods Market in North Central Florida is set to open.

METRO

First Whole Foods Market in North Central Florida comes to Gainesville

By Angela DiMichele | May 8, 2018

The first Whole Foods Market in Gainesville is set to open Wednesday.

District 1 Commissioner-elect Gigi Simmons (right) celebrates with friends and supporters after winning the runoff election between her and incumbent Charles Goston.

METRO

Simmons defeats incumbent for District 1 seat

May 1, 2018

The room was filled with pink shirts as Gigi Simmons’ supporters watched the votes pour in.

A group of law enforcement officers drive under the U.S. flag hoisted by Alachua County Fire Rescue and Gainesville Fire Rescue fire engine ladders as part of the funeral procession on South Main Street in Bell, Florida for the two deputies who were shot in Trenton.

METRO

‘Never be forgotten’: Thousands honor killed deputies

By Robert Lewis | Apr. 24, 2018

With a New York Police Department patch clutched in one hand, 9-year-old Kaden Rogers waved with the other to first responders who drove by him.

In this Jan. 19, 2016 file photo, handguns are displayed at the Smith & Wesson booth at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville wants to regulate local gun laws. So it’s suing Gov. Rick Scott.

By Jessica Giles | Apr. 23, 2018

The City of Gainesville joined 10 other Florida cities in a lawsuit challenging portions of the state statute restricting local regulation of guns.

The Sears at The Oaks Mall is scheduled to close by mid-July.

METRO

Sears is closing at The Oaks Mall. The liquidation sale starts this week.

By Raymon Troncoso | Apr. 23, 2018

The store is scheduled to close by mid-July following a trend of declining profits for traditional department stores as customers migrate to online shopping.

Edward Ratliff, 32, Gainesville Police Department Police officer pets Ace, 26-month old German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix, who is one of the newest additions to the K-9 special unit.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Meet Ace and Ranger: GPD K-9’s newest members

By Amanda Rosa | Apr. 23, 2018

When Gainesville Police Officer Josh Meurer’s partner arrived to the city from Germany in February, they didn’t bond right away. But after a month of training and playing fetch together, Meurer and Ranger are inseparable.

Forest High School students console one another after a school shooting at Forest High School Friday, April 20, 2018 in Ocala, Fla. One student shot another in the ankle at the high school and a suspect is in custody, authorities said Friday. The injured student was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

METRO

MCSO: Forest High School shooter tells deputies why he did it

By Amanda Rosa | Apr. 22, 2018

Forest High School students were supposed to walk out in calm protest.

These undated photos made available by the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office shows Sgt. Noel Ramirez, left, and Deputy Taylor Lindsey. Authorities say the two Florida sheriff's deputies were shot dead, Thursday, April 19, 2018, through the window of a Chinese restaurant in Gilchrist, Fla., by a man who then killed himself.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office deputies to be buried Tuesday

By Robert Lewis | Apr. 22, 2018

Shortly after midnight Friday, red, blue and white flashing lights lit the 30-mile path from Trenton to Gainesville’s medical examiner’s office.

Rhett Barker, 24, lead 25 hikers down Hawthorne Trail for a six-mile hike. Saturday was the second hike organized by Barker and some friends to tell lawmakers to invest in conservation land.

METRO

About 30 people make trek for environmental awareness

By Tamarra Thal | Apr. 22, 2018

Twenty-five people armed with backpacks, cargo pants and hats took off on a six-mile hike on a 70-degree cloudy Saturday afternoon to persuade Florida legislators to preserve the state’s wildlife.

SWAT Officer Daniel Rengering, right, will report live from the Grammys for PopWrapped TV. Rengering said he will also be a host at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Jan. 27 and will be a guest speaker at the 91st Annual Rudolph Valentino Memorial in August.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

One of GPD’s ‘hot cops’ will be at the Grammys, then Oscars

By Rachel Porter | Apr. 22, 2018

One viral Facebook post has led a Gainesville Police “hot cop” to be at the 61st Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles in early 2019 to interview celebrities on the red carpet.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy, group shot at by other group

By Robert Lewis | Apr. 22, 2018

Three days after two Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office deputies were slain, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy was shot at early Sunday morning, MCSO said.