Convicted burglar arrested for trying to enter apartment

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Anthony Quinn Lockhart Jr., 25, was arrested yesterday for allegedly attempting to enter an occupied apartment.

At about 3:01 p.m. on May 7, a man was caught on the doorbell camera of an apartment at The Oaks (6519 W. Newberry Road), slowly and quietly trying to turn the door handle; at the time, a woman was alone in the apartment. When the man found that the door was locked, he walked away.

The suspect did not seem to notice the doorbell camera when he quietly approached the door, and he immediately tried to turn the door handle; he never knocked on the door or rang the doorbell. He looked straight into the doorbell camera as he left.

The victims called law enforcement when they got the notification from the doorbell camera because they did not recognize the man and it was obvious that he was testing the door handle to see if it was unlocked. The female victim said she was terrified because she was alone at the time, and both residents of the apartment reported that they now feel uneasy and are having trouble sleeping.

The responding Gainesville Police Department officer reported that the suspect was wearing a teal-colored sweater with a distinct leopard print.

Facial recognition software matched the video from the doorbell with Lockhart’s face; he does not have a listed address and is considered to be homeless, but on May 8, Lockhart was spotted driving out of an apartment complex in the 4100 block of SW 20th Avenue, although he does not have a valid driver’s license. An officer reported that a teal sweater with a leopard print was found on the seat of the car.

Post Miranda, Lockhart reportedly admitted to pulling the door handle and asked if he could apologize to the victim. He also reportedly said he went to The Oaks to meet up with somebody to buy weed, and that person was supposed to leave the door open for him. However, the officer noted that his actions do not align with his story because he tried very slowly to turn the door handle, which is not normal for someone who expects the door to be open; he turned the door handle so quietly that the victim did not hear it, although she was nearby; he never knocked when he found that the door was locked; he walked away immediately instead of waiting for the person he was supposed to meet; and the doors are clearly marked with apartment numbers, so it seems unlikely that he accidentally went to the wrong apartment.

Lockhart reportedly had no response to these points and asked again if he could apologize to the victims.

The detective reported that GPD is following up with other residents of The Oaks who have doorbell cameras, to see if Lockhart went to other apartments. Also, an officer showed the doorbell video to a landscaper who was working in the area, and he reportedly said he “definitely” saw Lockhart walking around the apartment complex around 2 p.m., an hour before the reported incident.

When Lockhart was asked if he would be shown on other doorbell cameras, he reportedly “became very concerned” and thought about his answer before saying he had been in the complex for about an hour, but he only tested one door handle. He was also unable to provide any information about the person he claimed to be visiting at The Oaks.

Lockhart has been charged with attempted burglary of an occupied dwelling and driving with a suspended license. He has six felony convictions (four for burglary), two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent), and one criminal traffic conviction; he has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2022. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $52,000.

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