Gainesville man charged with stealing car that was ‘calling for him to take it’
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Denzel James Reeves Wright, 33, was arrested yesterday and charged with stealing a car from the parking lot of a convenience store.
At about 4 p.m. on May 1, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to a call about a suspicious incident near the 1900 block of SW 36th Street; the caller said Wright rang her doorbell and threatened to kick in her door. The officer reported that when he tried to speak to Wright, Wright ran into the yard of an abandoned residence. Two officers chased him, and Wright reportedly ran to the back of the residence but stopped and sat down when he could not get inside. Wright reportedly complied with commands to lie on the ground and was detained without incident.
A search incident to arrest produced a set of keys in his hand that were found to belong to a stolen vehicle parked in the woodline near the residence; a debit card belonging to the owner of the stolen vehicle was also reportedly found in his pocket.
Post Miranda, Wright reportedly admitted that he took the vehicle from a convenience store in the 2400 block of SW 34th Street; he said the vehicle was left running, and “it was like the vehicle was calling for him to take it.” He reportedly admitted taking it for a joyride and leaving it where it was found.
Wright has been charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle. He has three felony convictions (none violent) and seven misdemeanor convictions (one violent), along with two battery cases that were dropped; he has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in October 2024. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $15,000.
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.
WTH kind of ja ked up bail amounts is that? Rawls needs to leave. This man stole a car because ” it was calling him” and threaten to kick in a door of a residence. I detect a smidgen of mental illness along with a break of violence.
I wish those voices would tell criminals to jump off a bridge or in front of a truck. Maybe go play in Lake Alice with the alligators.
Wouldn’t have to worry about low bails anymore.
Are these idiot ‘victims’ ever going learn to ALWAYS LOCK their vehicle when not in it, much less leaving it running while going into a store?
This dude has much better hearing then me. Every time I pass a Rolls, Benz or Beamer I stop and listen really carefully. Never once have I heard the car say “Take me” so I have left them in place.