Contributed by Staff

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On December 27, authorities arrested 73-year-old Steven Michael Carter following an alleged attempt to evade an officer who intended to issue a citation for panhandling. Carter was also detained due to an outstanding warrant related to dealing in stolen goods.

At approximately 7:30 p.m., a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer observed Carter standing on a narrow median along East University Avenue. Gainesville law prohibits individuals from lingering on medians less than six feet wide, and this incident marked Carter’s sixth infraction of this ordinance, according to a GPD spokesperson.

When the officer activated the patrol car’s lights, Carter reportedly fled but was soon captured by the officer. During the arrest, Carter allegedly resisted being handcuffed.

A subsequent search upon his arrest uncovered a glass pipe typically associated with narcotic use. Consequently, Carter faces charges of resisting an officer without violence and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Following a Miranda warning, Carter allegedly admitted the pipe was his, claiming he uses it to smoke narcotics provided by friends. He anticipated that the pipe would likely test positive for crack cocaine. Carter also claimed he was unaware of the warrant against him and could not justify his decision to flee from law enforcement.

Carter was also booked for allegedly selling stolen diving watches to a pawn shop on July 1; the watches had been stolen from a vehicle about 10 hours before they were sold to the pawn shop. According to the sworn complaint, surveillance video shows that the items were probably stolen by an unidentified man who accompanied Carter to the pawn shop. Carter has been charged with dealing in stolen property and falsely claiming ownership of pawned items.

Carter, who is described as homeless in court documents, has no criminal convictions. Judge Jonathan Ramsey set bail at $105,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.