Gainesville man arrested for multiple burglaries and vehicle thefts

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dalton McCay Albritton, 27, was arrested on April 21 during the initial stages of an investigation into multiple stolen vehicles, and more charges were added yesterday.

On April 21, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy saw a dirt bike on SW Archer Road that looked similar to one that had been reported stolen earlier in the day. The deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the dirt bike, but the driver sped up and turned into The Palms of Archer mobile home park; the driver then drove through the yard of lot 2133, where multiple stolen vehicles were later recovered after a search warrant was obtained.

The lot was secured, and a protective sweep was conducted to clear the lot of any people while deputies waited for a search warrant. Albritton was reportedly found hiding under a bed and initially told a deputy that his name was Dylan Hammitt, but no records were found under that name. Another deputy was speaking with Albritton’s girlfriend at the time and obtained his correct name; Albritton eventually admitted his correct name and reportedly said he lied about his name because he was scared.

On the same date, a deputy responded to a report of a residential burglary. The victim told the deputy that she had been unable to find a gas can, which she kept in her garage. In reviewing surveillance video at her home, she said she saw a man arrive in a pickup truck at about 9:20 a.m. on April 19; the man had walked into her garage and had come out with a Gatorade bottle. The man then paused, walked back into the garage, and came out with the gas can.

Deputies determined that the pickup truck was stolen, and it was later recovered in Archer. A witness who knew Albritton reportedly identified the man in the video as Albritton.

Albritton was arrested on charges of giving false identification information to a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, burglary, and theft. Judge Donna Keim set bail at $100,000.

After fingerprints lifted from the dirt bike and helmet were processed and reportedly matched Albritton’s prints, he was also charged yesterday with burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and fleeing. Judge Thomas Jaworski added another $150,000 in bail on those charges.

Albritton has five felony convictions (none violent) and has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release on January 27, 2023. His convictions have been mostly on grand theft and motor vehicle theft charges, with convictions in Taylor County, Dixie County, and Columbia County.

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.