Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Two individuals, Jack Caverly Mason II, aged 61, and Tyson Lane McCommis, 22, were taken into custody yesterday after a foiled attempt to pilfer goods valued at over $750 from a Walmart in the northeast part of the city. The pair allegedly fled from law enforcement following the incident.

The duo reportedly entered the Walmart located at 1800 NE 12th Avenue around 9:45 a.m. on March 22. Inside, they selected merchandise totaling $756.18 and exited without completing a purchase. When a Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) confronted them, they purportedly disregarded the officer, leaving the items behind and continuing on their way.

According to police reports, Mason and McCommis then got into a car driven by Mason. A Gainesville Police Department officer, responding to the scene, noticed McCommis moving quickly through the parking lot, matching the description provided by the caller. The LPO indicated the vehicle to the officer, prompting him to activate his lights and sirens, which led Mason to eventually halt the car in the parking lot.

At that point, McCommis allegedly exited the car, said “See ya,” and fled from officers into the nearby Cedar Grove neighborhood. He was eventually captured after a brief chase. A witness informed officers that McCommis discarded an object while running, which was later identified as a clear glass pipe with a white powdery substance.

Despite being instructed by the first officer that he was not free to leave, Mason reportedly re-entered the driver’s seat and drove off as the officer pursued McCommis. Mason was subsequently located about 10 minutes later, standing outside his vehicle on the 2300 block of SE 9th Avenue.

Post Miranda, Mason reportedly said that he knew he was detained, but he got back into the vehicle and drove away when the officer chased McCommis because he was scared. He also admitted to working with McCommis as they passed all points of sale with the items at Walmart.

Post Miranda, McCommis reportedly said he ran because he’s afraid of law enforcement officers and his “flght or flight” response told him to run. He said he had only known Mason for about one day and he knew Mason was stealing items from Walmart, but he agreed to stay because he was afraid. He said Mason told him he needed help making a “run” at Walmart, and he did not know what Mason meant but agreed to come along anyway. He said Mason made him smoke “crack” earlier in the day and he was told it was “mop,” but after he smoked it, he realized it was something else.

Mason has been charged with grand theft and attempting to elude a police officer, and he was also booked on two probation violations. He has two felony convictions (non-violent) and six misdemeanor convictions (non-violent), and he is on probation in two cases involving burglary and grand theft. Judge Meshon Rawls ordered him held without bail until the probation violations are resolved, and she set bail at $65,000 on the new charges.

McCommis has been charged with petit theft with two or more previous convictions, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting an officer without violence. He has five misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he was recently assigned to Mental Health Court in two petit theft cases, but he was unsuccessfully discharged from his program for having alcohol on the campus. He was re-arrested, adjudicated guilty after entering a plea, and fined in both cases; he was released from the Alachua County Jail on March 10. Judge Rawls set bail at $12,000 on the new charges.

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.