Gainesville man arrested for trying to force his way into the same house twice in two days

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Contravious Alexander Bedford, 30, was arrested yesterday morning and charged with burglary, theft, property damage, and battery after allegedly trying to force his way into the same Newberry residence twice in two days.

The first 911 call was at 8:52 p.m. on Monday, when the victim, Bedford’s former girlfriend, reported that Bedford had knocked on the door of the home, but she leaned on it to hold it closed because it hadn’t been fully repaired following a previous incident in which Bedford had kicked the door in and had broken the door handle.

The caller was reportedly on the phone with the Combined Communications Center when Bedford allegedly pushed into the home, grabbed the phone out of her hand, and threw it into the yard. The victim said that she gathered her children and put them in her car, but before she could get into the car, Bedford threw a cup of juice on her. She said that she and her children locked themselves in her car until Bedford left.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy who responded to that call reported that the front door was damaged and there was sticky juice on the victim’s car. Because Bedford had already left, the deputy completed a sworn complaint.

At 10:15 a.m. the next morning, the same victim called 911 again, and a deputy again responded. This time, Bedford was still at the residence, and he reportedly spontaneously said that he had been at the residence the night before and was just trying to gather some property and leave. He was arrested on the charges from the previous night, and a small foil pouch was found in his pocket in a search incident to arrest. When asked what was in the pouch, Bedford reportedly said it was “molly,” and the substance tested positive for MDPV.

Bedford has been charged with burglary, theft, property damage over $200, obstructing communication with law enforcement, and battery in the September 26 incident, with bail set at $90,000. He has been charged with burglary and possession of a controlled substance in the September 27 incident, with bail set at $75,000. He has four felony convictions (two violent) and has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2014.

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.