Inset: Joshua R. Spirit (Alachua County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The Ace Hardware in Gainesville where Spirit allegedly shoplifted with the help of his 6-year-old daughter (Google Maps).
A 35-year-old man from Florida faces serious accusations after allegedly involving his 6-year-old daughter in an attempted theft at a local Ace Hardware. The man, identified as Joshua Robert Spirit, reportedly abandoned his child in the store’s parking lot while fleeing from a security guard who caught him in the act.
This week, Spirit was apprehended and now faces several charges, including child abuse without causing severe harm, neglect of a child without physical harm, and non-violent resistance to an officer, according to the records.
The arrest report, referenced by Law&Crime, reveals that the incident unfolded around 4 p.m. on Monday, November 10, at the Ace Hardware located in the 3700 block of University Avenue in Gainesville. A security guard recounted that Spirit, accompanied by his daughter, was seen in the tool section where he allegedly concealed merchandise on himself and in his daughter’s bag. The young girl was reportedly acting as a lookout during the theft.
The guard observed Spirit bypassing the checkout points and leaving the store without paying for goods valued at $199, according to the report. When the guard identified himself and attempted to intervene, Spirit allegedly ignored the request to stop.
As Spirit and his daughter got into his vehicle to escape, the guard positioned himself behind the car and took a photo of the license plate. During this time, Spirit allegedly reversed the car, “tapping” the guard in an attempt to flee. The security guard then contacted emergency services as Spirit sped away.
Officers from the Gainesville Police Department soon tracked Spirit to his residence. When ordered to stop, Spirit reportedly ran off, leaving his daughter alone and unattended.
A second officer soon spotted Spirit walking in the 5900 block of NW 23rd Terrace. When Spirit heard the officer tell him to stop, he allegedly “jumped over an 8-foot concrete wall” and “concealed himself in the nearby Walmart parking lot.”
A third officer said they found Spirit “hiding under a parked car on the Walmart property.” Police said Spirit began to climb back over the same concrete wall again, but saw that one of the officers pursuing him was still on the other side. Instead, he bolted into the Walmart and tried to hide. The third officer followed him into the store and deployed his Taser before placing Spirit under arrest. A blue pocket knife was recovered from Spirit’s pocket, the report says.
Records show that Spirit was previously convicted of multiple nonviolent felonies and was on probation at the time of his arrest. He was processed at the Alachua County Jail where a judge set his bond at $45,000 on the latest charges but ordered Spirit to be held without bond while his probation status is reviewed.
It was not immediately clear when he was scheduled to appear in court again.
