Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Taurus Cordarryl Duncan, aged 36, found himself in police custody following an arrest on charges related to a home invasion robbery. The arrest came after an incident where he allegedly attempted to evade a police officer.

The chain of events began around 5:15 p.m. on December 6 when Duncan reportedly had a heated disagreement with a woman he was dating. After she requested him to leave her home, he complied initially, only to return about 10 minutes later. Upon his return, he allegedly forced entry by kicking open her door, inflicting approximately $500 worth of damage. Inside, he purportedly demanded the return of gifts, seizing a necklace and a wig from her and tossing them to the ground before leaving, with a promise to come back. Following this, the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer documented the incident, resulting in charges against Duncan for burglary of an occupied dwelling, unarmed home invasion robbery, and domestic battery, leading to a warrant for his arrest.

On December 17, at approximately 12:41 p.m., a GPD officer spotted Duncan driving along the 3000 block of East University Avenue. When the officer activated his lights and sirens, Duncan allegedly continued driving another 100 feet before halting. Upon being instructed to exit the vehicle, Duncan reportedly sped off, disregarding multiple stop signs in the process.

His vehicle was later discovered near a duplex on NE 21st Avenue, where witnesses observed him fleeing into an apartment. Attempting to escape through a back door, Duncan retreated upon encountering an officer. With additional officers arriving to encircle the building, Duncan allegedly attempted to escape through a window but was ultimately caught.

As a result of the December 17 events, Duncan faces additional charges, including fleeing from law enforcement with lights and sirens engaged and resisting an officer without violence.

Duncan, a registered Sexual Offender, has four felony convictions (one sexual offense with a juvenile victim); he has served two state prison sentences and was released in 2017. He is on probation in Bradford County. Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered him held without bail on the burglary and home invasion charges, 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 Ramsey set bail at $60,000 on the other charges.

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.