Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kenneth Dale Anderson II, 35, was arrested early Wednesday after authorities said he injured a Gainesville police officer while attempting to evade arrest. Anderson is also facing charges related to a stolen handgun and alleged drug possession. The School Board of Alachua County confirmed Anderson worked as a custodian at Hidden Oak Elementary and said he will be placed on leave.
The incident began around 12:25 a.m. September 17, when an officer stopped a vehicle Anderson was driving after seeing him run a red light near SE 3rd Avenue and SE Hawthorne Road. The vehicle later came to a stop at a daycare in the 1700 block of SE Hawthorne Road. A police K-9 reportedly alerted officers to possible illegal drugs inside the car.
According to the arrest report, Anderson entered a door code and told officers he was authorized to clean the daycare. He allegedly ran into the building and attempted to shut the door behind him, striking an officer’s arm in the process. The officer reported severe bruising and other injuries as a result.
Police brought Anderson to the ground and placed him under arrest.
After the K-9 alert, officers searched the vehicle and reportedly discovered a bag containing a Taurus G3C handgun equipped with an extended magazine. The firearm had been reported stolen in Columbia County in 2022. The bag also allegedly held several controlled substances, including 1.0 grams of powdered amphetamines, one MDMA tablet, three amphetamine pills and one Suboxone pill.
Investigators also found several pencils in the bag. Anderson reportedly told officers that he gives pencils to students at Hidden Oak Elementary.
After being read his Miranda rights, Anderson reportedly said he opened the daycare’s door to demonstrate that he had access to the property. He denied trying to lock himself inside to escape police. Anderson said his mother had rented the vehicle for him and that only the two of them drove it. He denied knowing about the firearm or drugs, suggesting that his mother may have allowed someone else to use the car.
Anderson’s mother later arrived and confirmed that she rented the vehicle for him, although the rental agreement listed Anderson’s name. She also told officers that she and Anderson were the only people who drove the car.
Anderson was charged with possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a controlled substance, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence. Court records show he has one prior nonviolent felony conviction. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $140,000.
Arrest reports provide the basis for coverage of these cases. The charges described in this story come from law enforcement records and/or court documents and remain allegations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
