Convicted felon on pre-trial release arrested for stealing gun from vehicle parked on rural property

Staff report

ALACHUA, Fla. – Homer Wiggins Jr., 44, of St. Cloud, Florida, was arrested after a high-speed pursuit from the city of Alachua to the northwest Gainesville Walmart and was charged with stealing a firearm and other items from a vehicle at a rural property.

On July 25, the victim, who lives on County Road 1491 north of Alachua, reported that his truck had been burglarized and a wallet, pistol, and ammunition were missing.

At about 1:47 a.m. on July 26, an Alachua Police Department officer saw a car approaching from his rear at over 90 mph in a 60 mph zone. The officer pulled over to get behind the car and reported that the car was swerving into the bicycle lane. The officer initiated a traffic stop, but the driver allegedly failed to stop and drove at speeds up to 98 mph until the officer performed a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) on the vehicle in the 6300 block of NW 13th Street.

The driver, Graham Scott Foster, 43, of Gainesville, was detained. He reportedly performed poorly on field sobriety tests, and his breath tests measured 0.182 and 0.191 g/210L. Foster was charged with fleeing with lights and sirens active, driving under the influence, and reckless driving.

A Gainesville Police Department officer who was assisting with the incident reported that Wiggins, the passenger in the car, leaned over to the driver’s side of the vehicle before getting out. Officers reportedly found the stolen handgun in plain view on the driver’s seat.

Post Miranda, Wiggins reportedly denied knowing anything about the stolen gun.

Wiggins was transported to a local hospital, and an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy interviewed him at the hospital. Wiggins reportedly said the gun was not his and then asked for a lawyer. At one point, Wiggins reportedly told the deputy he wasn’t stupid and knows he is a convicted felon who cannot possess firearms.

Wiggins has been charged with armed burglary of a vehicle, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (one from Alachua Police Department and one from Alachua County Sheriff’s Office), and grand theft of a firearm. He has three felony convictions (one violent) and 11 misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released on April 22, 2026. He is on pre-trial release in Seminole County for petit theft. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $400,000.

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.