Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities apprehended Dwight Leon Jenkins Jr., 37, on allegations of making a false 911 call to distract law enforcement from his whereabouts. Additionally, he faces charges related to five separate shoplifting incidents.

On the morning of March 17, at approximately 9:28 a.m., officers from the Gainesville Police Department converged on a vacant apartment in Pineridge where Jenkins had been residing unlawfully. Their mission was to execute five outstanding shoplifting warrants.

While officers communicated their presence via loudspeaker, the Combined Communications Center received a text to 911 stating, “need officers to Northwood Pines, they shooting.” However, without further corroborating calls, the operator traced the phone’s location, revealing it was still at the Pineridge apartment. This discovery led officers to conclude that the message was a ploy to redirect police attention away from Jenkins.

By 10:09 a.m., Jenkins reportedly emerged from the apartment and surrendered to the authorities.

One officer noted that Jenkins possessed a cell phone that was turned off, and he declined to respond to any inquiries regarding the 911 communication after being read his Miranda rights.

Jenkins has been charged with making a false 911 call, a misdemeanor, and was also booked on five warrants for shoplifting, all felonies because he has previous theft convictions. He has eight felony convictions (four violent) and six misdemeanor convictions (two violent), and he has served four state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2022. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail on the new charge at $5,000, and the warrants had a combined bail of $55,000.

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.