Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – William Dakota Culp, 35, was arrested yesterday after authorities accused him of fleeing from police and driving toward an officer who was attempting to stop him.
Gainesville Police Department officers were investigating complaints about a vehicle being driven recklessly near Campus Walk Apartments, located at 914 SW 8th Avenue, at approximately 11 p.m. on November 7. Culp lives at the complex. While officers remained in the area, a vehicle matching the caller’s description returned, prompting police to initiate a traffic stop.
According to the allegations, an officer in full uniform was standing in the roadway when Culp ignored commands to stop and suddenly accelerated toward him. Investigators said Culp did not appear to slow down, stop, or steer away. The officer reportedly had to jump out of the roadway to avoid being struck and was “placed in reasonable fear of imminent bodily injury.”
Police said Culp then drove away, turning east onto SW 7th Avenue and traveling the wrong direction on the one-way street. Officers continued pursuing him as he made multiple turns and managed to evade them.
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Shortly afterward, authorities received a report of a vehicle crash at 714 SW 10th Street. The driver reportedly left the crash scene on foot.
A warrant for Culp’s arrest was issued November 9, and officers arrested him yesterday.
Culp faces charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing, resisting an officer with violence, and first-offense reckless driving. He has 20 prior nonviolent felony convictions and four nonviolent misdemeanor convictions. He has also served three state prison sentences, most recently being released in March 2025. Judge Adam Lee ordered Culp held without bail while awaiting a hearing on a State Attorney’s Office request to keep him detained without bail through trial. If that request is denied, the judge will set bail at the hearing.
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.
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