Bystander helps arrest convicted felon fleeing police

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Brian Lamont Davis, 41, was arrested yesterday after a bystander helped a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer take him into custody. He was charged with cocaine possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, resisting arrest without violence, resisting arrest with violence, and attempting to elude a police officer.

At about noon on June 18, multiple calls were received about a vehicle creating a hazard; a GPD officer the vehicle stopped at an intersection and made contact with Davis. Davis allegedly sped away, and the officer reported that he attempted to conduct a traffic stop but deactivated his lights and sirens when Davis drove away at a high rate of speed. Davis then reportedly lost control of his vehicle, crashed into another vehicle, and fled on foot.

The officer reported that as he approached the vehicle, he saw Davis running through the parking lot of a business. Davis allegedly took a firearm from his waistband and threw it under a parked vehicle as he ran. The officer tried to place Davis in handcuffs, but Davis allegedly pulled away and ran toward the back of the building, taking a container from his pocket and throwing it on the ground.

The officer caught up with Davis again and tried to handcuff him, but Davis allegedly continued to resist and push the officer away. A bystander at the business saw what was happening and reportedly helped the officer take Davis into custody.

A field test gave a presumptive positive result for cocaine in the discarded container, and the officer wrote that Davis, as a convicted felon, was prohibited from carrying a firearm.

Davis is being held on $185,000 bail.

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.