Deputies arrest man hiding in attic on active warrants

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Lance Edward Martin, 32, was arrested early this morning after he was found hiding in his attic when deputies attempted to serve a warrant at his residence.

At 11:52 p.m. last night, Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to serve warrants in Verdant Cove Apartments on Martin for violation of probation in a 2019 case and a 2021 case.

Deputies reported that when they arrived, they saw Martin running inside the residence. He was reportedly given numerous verbal announcements to surrender, and multiple ASO patrol cars were parked outside the building. Deputies searched room by room, which reportedly took about 30 minutes because of the clutter and trash in the residence, and eventually noticed that cobwebs in the entry to the attic were disturbed; Martin was reportedly found in the attic.

In addition to the two warrants, on which he is being held without bond, Martin has been charged with resisting arrest without violence, with bail of $10,000 on that charge. He has 8 felony convictions and was most recently released from state prison in June of 2022.

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.