Career Offender arrested for third offense in 30 days

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ricky Morrow, 51, was arrested yesterday for indecent exposure, his third offense in 30 days.

The first arrest of the three was on January 17 at the Civic Media Center (433 S. Main Street). A Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer responded and reportedly saw Morrow entering and exiting the building in violation of a trespass order that had been issued on December 20. As officers tried to handcuff him, Morrow allegedly tried to pull away, and an officer reportedly had to brace him against a fence. Morrow was charged with resisting an officer without violence and trespassing.

Morrow was released after posting $10,000 in bail, and he was arrested again on February 10 after allegedly stealing a vehicle from a man who got out of the driver’s seat of his car because he was sick. Morrow was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, drug possession, and driving without a valid license; he posted $22,000 bail and was released.

At 7:25 p.m. on February 16, a GPD officer responded to a call from a woman who said she was walking in the 300 block of SW 7th Avenue when a man rode by her several times on a bicycle. She said the last time he passed her, he got off the bicycle and pulled his pants down, exposing his genitals. She said he walked behind a building and she ran from the area out of fear that he intended to sexually assault her.

The officer found Morrow in the area a short time later, and the victim reportedly identified him as the man who had exposed himself to her.

Post Miranda, Morrow reportedly admitted that he had ridden past the victim several times, and he admitted walking behind a house in the shadows because he was looking for people who had broken into his tent. He denied pulling down his pants or exposing himself.

Morrow is a designated Career Offender who has 21 felony convictions (two violent) and 26 misdemeanor convictions (six violent); he has served six state prison sentences, with his most recent release in September 2024. 

Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $15,000 on the new charge.

In both of his previous cases, Morrow was released on standard release conditions, which include a requirement to refrain from criminal activity of any kind. After his February 10 arrest, he was not charged with violating pre-trial release conditions from his January arrest, and he has still not been charged with violating pre-trial release conditions in either of the two previous cases.

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.