GPD makes arrest in SW Gainesville attacks on women

Press release from Gainesville Police Department

Two separate attacks on women occurred last night in southwest Gainesville: At approximately 12:15 a.m., the first victim was jogging in the area of 2300 SW 23rd Terr when she was attacked and forced into a vehicle. The victim attempted to call 911, and the kidnapper took her phone and threatened to rape and kill her. The victim saw a window of opportunity and threw herself out of the moving vehicle; she then escaped and ran for help. The kidnapper was described as a black male, 6 ft tall, thin/muscular build, curly short hair, wearing khaki shorts and a dark-colored t-shirt, driving a dark sedan-type vehicle.

At approximately 3:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to a separate incident at 2800 SW 35th Place in reference to a sexual battery. The victim was entering her apartment when the perpetrator threatened her with a gun and forced her into a wooded area, where he raped her, then fleeing on foot. The rapist is described as a black male, slim build, 6 ft tall with dreads.

The combined effort of the Gainesville Police Department’s Operations and Investigations Bureaus has led to the arrest of a suspect in these attacks. The Gainesville Police Department has charged Antwine Samuel Johnson (DOB: 10/28/1989), of southwest Gainesville, on counts of sexual battery and kidnapping.  Physical evidence discarded on scene as well as other digital evidence collected during the time frame of the attacks proved vital to the resolution of these tragedies.  Other charges are pending the outcome of multiple forensic examinations of other evidence. Johnson is now housed in the Alachua County Jail on these charges, as well as charges from an unrelated incident that occurred hours after the two attacks. 

Detectives continue to urge anyone who may have also seen Johnson between the hours of midnight and 4:00 a.m. on Friday, September 10, 2021, to contact the Gainesville Police Department’s Investigations Bureau Sgt. Jaron Griffin at 352-393-7734 or Crimestoppers at 352-372-7867 or stopcrimetv.com.