Gainesville man arrested for fleeing from officer in Archer Road traffic
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Andre Sanchez Bryant, 19, was arrested yesterday after allegedly fleeing from a police officer in traffic on Archer Road, including driving 60 mph in a 35 mph zone and making a U-turn at a red light.
At about 5:06 p.m. on September 27, a Gainesville Police Department officer reportedly saw a car enter SW Archer Road from northbound I-75 and turn east without stopping at the stop bar. The officer reported that that vehicle immediately sped up and he paced the vehicle at 62 mph in a 35 mph zone.
The officer reported that the vehicle slowed due to traffic but then began making evasive maneuvers by changing lanes, and the officer initiated a traffic stop. The officer reported that the vehicle accelerated and again changed lanes, ignoring a red light while making a U-turn to travel westbound on Archer Road, all while the officer’s lights and sirens were active. The vehicle eventually pulled into a parking lot and stopped.
The officer reported smelling marijuana coming from the vehicle, and a search reportedly produced about 2 grams of marijuana and burnt “blunt” ends.
Post Miranda, Bryant reportedly said he saw the officer behind him in traffic, but he knew he was driving 60 mph in a 35 mph zone and had been smoking marijuana, so he “got scared” and started making evasive maneuvers in traffic, hoping the officer would abandon the pursuit. He said he stopped when he realized the officer was continuing to pursue him because he did not want to scare his passenger. Bryant also reportedly said he did not have a driver’s license and had never had one.
Bryant has been charged with fleeing from a law enforcement officer with lights and sirens active and driving without a valid license; he was also cited for speeding. He has no local criminal history, and Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered him released on his own recognizance.
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.
“Bryant also reportedly said he did not have a driver’s license and had never had one.” Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered him released on his own recognizance.
Hopefully he doesn’t get back behind the wheel and hurt someone. No insurance, no licence, and no sense. If your injured you won’t get a damn thing from Andre. It’s a wonder our insurance is so high.
Did they at least impund the car?
Some of the moronic judges here think its their job to coddle these scumbags! NOT!
Maybe because he has no criminal history the judge is required to let him out on his own recognizance. If there are no consequences for poor choices, the bad behavior normally continues. Hopefully this is a wake up call for him to get his life together.
ROR on a felony charge…a new low. There is no ‘misdemeanor fleeing’ with lights and sirens activated. What’s this world coming to- Buford T. Justice.
He’s an idiot. Anyone who lives in Gainesville knows you can’t get away from anything on Archer Rd with the 🚦s out of synch, much less the traffic.
Good thing he tried on a Saturday, gave him a smidgen of a chance.
He could be a drug dealer witness for the Court Services staff.
RealJk can we talk off site about Court Services? On Phone over coffee. Just 2 people discussing.
I wonder why there was no DUI charge, even after having admitted that he had smoked.