Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Reginald Lawson Gill, 56, was apprehended yesterday after a warrant for shoplifting led to a pursuit through the woods close to the Depot Avenue bike trail.
At approximately 10:59 a.m. on July 26, while investigating another incident, a Gainesville Police Department officer watched security footage at Wawa (1007 E. University Avenue). During this review, he observed Gill entering the store, taking four bags of chips, and exiting without making a payment. The officer noted that further footage showed Gill returning to the store, retrieving a bag of ice from the cooler, lingering until no staff were present at the back door, and again leaving without paying.
The store manager reportedly requested the officer to issue a trespass order against Gill from Wawa. After departing the store, the officer encountered Gill near the Depot Avenue bike trail on the 1100 block of SE 2nd Avenue, still clad in the same attire as during the incidents at Wawa.
The officer walked toward Gill, who reportedly walked away. The officer told Gill to stop, and Gill reportedly stopped and provided his identification. When the officer learned that Gill had a warrant for shoplifting, Gill reportedly asked the officer to let him go because he hadn’t been in trouble for seven years and was just having a rough time.
The officer moved toward Gill, and Gill allegedly ran into the wood line, ignoring multiple commands to stop and get on the ground. The deputy pulled out his taser, but Gill allegedly kept running, although he was slowed by thorn bushes. The deputy deployed his taser when he had a clear shot and detained Gill.
Gill has been charged with resisting an officer without violence and booked on a warrant for stealing clothes and shrimp from the Walmart at Butler Plaza on May 19 (a felony because of prior convictions for theft). He has 13 felony convictions (one violent) and 17 misdemeanor convictions (three violent); he has served six state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2021. Judge Donna Keim set bail at $15,000 on the new charge, and Judge Denise Ferrero had previously set bail at $10,000 on the shoplifting charge.
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.
