Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A man named Bobby Matthew King, aged 43, was apprehended last night for armed robbery after he reportedly took an e-bike at gunpoint from a person who had provided him with temporary accommodation.
On September 7, it was alleged that King was staying at the victim’s residence and mentioned he was about to depart. During this encounter, he purportedly seized the victim’s e-bike, valued at approximately $1,400, and lifted his shirt to display a black handgun concealed at his waist. King then allegedly looked the victim in the eye, claimed ownership of the bicycle, and proceeded to remove it from the house.
A witness reportedly corroborated the victim’s story.
Officers from the Gainesville Police Department located King around 8:34 p.m. on September 16, near the crossroads of NW 13th Street and NW 23rd Avenue.
Following his Miranda rights being read, King reportedly claimed the victim had allowed him to use the bicycle, which was subsequently taken from him later that night. He stated he found the bike again, only for it to be stolen once more while he was asleep. The officer noted that through these declarations, King admitted to having possession of the bike.
Court documents describe King as homeless, and he now faces a charge of armed robbery. His record includes four felony convictions (one involving violence) and six misdemeanor convictions (one involving violence), alongside two sentences served in state prison, the latest of which concluded in June 2022. Judge David Kreider has ordered him detained without bail until a hearing on the State Attorney’s office’s motion to keep him detained without bail until the trial; should the judge decline this motion, bail will be determined at that hearing.
Arrest-related articles are derived from law enforcement agency reports. The listed charges originate from arrest reports and/or court records and are merely accusations. All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
