Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Raulheim Devontia Dames, aged 28, was taken into custody yesterday on charges of aggravated stalking after reportedly stalking a former girlfriend for more than seven months.
The victim approached the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) on August 7 to report that Dames had been showing up uninvited at her home since July 29. She explained that on July 29, after she refused him entry, he allegedly took her surveillance camera. Since then, she claimed he has been incessantly calling her.
On August 11, the victim made a 911 call reporting that Dames was at her house again, threatening to break in. Upon arrival, the attending GPD officer noted Dames escaping on a bicycle and verified his presence through surveillance footage from the victim’s home. Officers then set up a perimeter and successfully located Dames, who was wearing the same clothes as seen on the video.
Post Miranda, Dames did not want to make any statements.
The victim secured a domestic violence injunction last August. Dames allegedly began contacting her again via calls and texts starting December 24, 2024. On December 29, he reportedly called her nine times without displaying caller ID and then appeared at her door while on his phone. The victim answered the call, recognizing his voice. Dames allegedly inquired if she had company and she advised him to leave and stop behaving erratically.
Around 9 a.m. on January 5, Dames allegedly made several calls to her and then knocked on her bedroom window while calling her. She answered and reported recognizing his voice once more. He allegedly demanded entry; after she refused, he warned her he would get very upset. He allegedly threatened to damage her vehicle when she mentioned calling 911, prompting him to leave.
A formal complaint for stalking and violating a domestic violence injunction was filed on January 8, later escalating to a felony case with an aggravated stalking charge formally lodged on May 1. A warrant for Dames’s arrest was issued on May 12.
Dames has been charged with aggravated stalking after an injunction and aggravated domestic stalking. He has three felony convictions (non-violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent) and is facing another misdemeanor stalking case with the same victim. He has served one state prison sentence and was released in March 2023, and he is on probation in Columbia County for property damage.
Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing. Judge Miller-Jones required a GPS monitor if he is released.
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.
