Staff report
ALACHUA, Fla. – A St. Cloud man was arrested after authorities say a stolen firearm and other property tied to a vehicle burglary near Alachua were found following a high-speed chase that ended near the Walmart in northwest Gainesville. Homer Wiggins Jr., 44, is accused in connection with the theft from a vehicle on rural property.
The case began July 25, when a resident on County Road 1491 north of Alachua reported that someone had broken into his truck. According to the report, a wallet, a pistol and ammunition were missing from the vehicle.
Around 1:47 a.m. the next day, an Alachua Police Department officer spotted a car coming up from behind at more than 90 mph in a 60 mph zone. The officer moved over to get behind the vehicle and reported that it was drifting into the bicycle lane. When the officer attempted a traffic stop, the driver allegedly kept going, reaching speeds of up to 98 mph before the officer used a Pursuit Intervention Technique, or PIT maneuver, in the 6300 block of NW 13th Street.
The driver was identified as Graham Scott Foster, 43, of Gainesville. Officers detained Foster, who reportedly struggled during field sobriety exercises. Breath tests later registered 0.182 and 0.191 g/210L, according to the report. Foster was charged with fleeing while lights and sirens were active, driving under the influence and reckless driving.
A Gainesville Police Department officer assisting at the scene reported that Wiggins, who was riding as a passenger, leaned toward the driver’s side of the car before stepping out. Officers then reportedly saw the stolen handgun in plain view on the driver’s seat.
After being read his Miranda rights, Wiggins reportedly denied any knowledge of the stolen firearm.
Wiggins was taken to a local hospital, where an Alachua County Sheriff’s deputy interviewed him. According to the report, Wiggins said the gun did not belong to him and then requested an attorney. At one point during the interaction, he reportedly told the deputy he was not stupid and knew that, as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Wiggins has been charged with armed burglary of a vehicle, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (one from Alachua Police Department and one from Alachua County Sheriff’s Office), and grand theft of a firearm. He has three felony convictions (one violent) and 11 misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released on April 22, 2026. He is on pre-trial release in Seminole County for petit theft. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $400,000.
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.
