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Bonita Springs man on pre-trial release arrested for stealing Amazon truck

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – William John Cochran, 35, of Bonita Springs, was arrested yesterday in Gainesville and charged with grand theft of an Amazon truck from a Bonita Springs dealership.

At about 7:28 a.m. on Monday, a Gainesville Police Department officer received an alert about a stolen Amazon truck that was believed to be on Archer Road; the officer was in the area, saw the stolen truck, and conducted a traffic stop.

The driver, later identified as Cochran, pulled over and was detained. Post Miranda, he reportedly said he got the vehicle from a dealership, then refused to answer any further questions.

The officer noted that the dealership had provided video showing Cochran entering the vehicle at about 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Cochran has been charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle and driving without a valid license. He is listed in court documents as homeless and had just arrived in Gainesville. He has three misdemeanor convictions (none violent) and is on pre-trial release in Collier County for grand theft and driving without a valid license. He also has a criminal history in Texas and Montana. Judge Thomas Jaworski set bail at $27,000.

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. 

  • Wow, these guys are like the post office used to be – they will walk through wind, rain, snow, steal vehicles and move mountains just to get here to Gainesville, the utopia for the homeless!

  • “He is listed in court documents as homeless and had just arrived in Gainesville.”

    Welcome to our fair city….where obeying the laws is optional. If you get caught being naughty there are plenty of lefties here to ensure you feel welcome and cared for.

  • Another Ward invitee. They’ve gone from hitchhiking and walking to stealing vehicles to get more free stuff in Gainesville.
    How much longer are you liberal lemmings going to allow yourselves to be led by the liberal lunatics who are driving all of us over the abyss? I guess it’s true, can’t fix stupid.

  • WTF only $27k? Keep him locked up forever! Our auto insurance premiums are skyrocking from stolen cars by repeat DWL drivers!

    • Maybe we should start using the AARPA funds to house them instead of taxpayers’ monies…in jail. Just have the city write a check to the jail. It’ll cut their expenditures and help with the homeless situation. Win, win.

  • Thanks Tommy Boy. You really make everyone feel safe and fuzzy with your low bails.

  • So ya’ll mean to tell me, Amazon is now delivering the Hood Rats to Gainesville?
    And ironically enough, the city commission is playing the role of “package pirates”?
    wth man……

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