Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Darius Lafabium Rivers Jr., 38, was arrested yesterday after deputies say he went to a neighbor’s apartment, claimed to be law enforcement investigating a water leak, and then forced the door open.
The incident was reported at about 5:57 p.m. on August 9 at The Crossings at Santa Fe, 3205 NW 83rd Street. Rivers allegedly left his apartment, walked upstairs, knocked on another unit’s door, and told the occupants he was “law enforcement” and needed to be let inside to inspect a water leak.
A woman and a male friend answered the door and told Rivers he could not come in, according to the arrest report. As they tried to close the door, Rivers allegedly pushed against it and kicked it twice, with his foot crossing into the apartment. On the second kick, the door swung open and struck the woman’s hand when the doorknob hit the wall.
Rivers then reportedly returned to his own apartment, where Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies contacted him. Deputies said Rivers again identified himself as a law enforcement officer.
After being read his Miranda rights, Rivers reportedly told deputies he was a law enforcement officer for “Sam.” When asked to explain, he allegedly clarified that he meant “Uncle Sam.”
A deputy noted in the report that Rivers had been arrested in 2025 at the University of Central Florida on a charge of impersonating a law enforcement officer.
Rivers is charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling, impersonating a law enforcement officer, battery causing bodily harm, and misdemeanor property damage. He has an unspecified criminal history in Hawaii in 2025 and in other Florida counties from 2006 through 2025. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail while the court considers a State Attorney’s Office motion to keep him detained until trial; if that motion is denied, bail will be set at the hearing.
Judge Miller-Jones also ordered a mental health evaluation.
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.
