Reported by Staff
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities apprehended 46-year-old Handy Roman Ford Jr. on charges of allegedly distributing crack cocaine to an informant earlier in February.
At the beginning of February 2026, an officer from the Gainesville Police Department, collaborating with the Gainesville Alachua County Drug Task Force, orchestrated a controlled purchase. Using a confidential informant, they acquired roughly 10 grams of crack cocaine from Ford at a parking lot situated at the crossroads of NW 13th Street and NW 39th Avenue. The transaction was purportedly coordinated over the phone by Ford.
Ford faces charges for selling a controlled substance and for the illicit use of a communication device. In discussions with Court Services, he disclosed his employment as a delivery driver for both DoorDash and Uber Eats. His criminal history includes nine felony convictions, two of which are violent, along with 13 misdemeanors, including two violent offenses. He has served four terms in state prison, with his latest release occurring in 2019. Judge Susan Miller-Jones has set his bail at $150,000.
Arrest reports are derived from information provided by law enforcement agencies. The charges mentioned originate from the arrest documents and court records and represent allegations. All individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
