Homeless man arrested after allegedly fleeing from deputies and ramming a gate on private property

Staff report

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Jesse Wayne Richards, 37, was arrested early this morning after allegedly fleeing from Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies and then ramming and destroying a private gate; the pursuit began because his vehicle was connected with an attempted homicide in Gilchrist County.

At about 4:15 a.m., an Alachua County Sheriff’s (ASO) Deputy was stationary on W. Newberry Road, just west of NW 98th Street, when he saw a light blue Ford Escape driving in the westbound direction; the vehicle matched the description of a vehicle connected to an attempted homicide in Gilchrist County. The deputy confirmed that the tag matched the alert and followed the vehicle until more deputies arrived; the deputy initiated a traffic stop with stop sticks near 170th Street, but the vehicle reportedly fled westbound and turned north on NW 180th Street.

When the vehicle got to the end of NW 180th Street, the driver reportedly rammed a gate and continued onto private property. The vehicle was reportedly disabled by an ASO vehicle at the back of the property.

Richards has been charged with property damage and attempting to elude law enforcement with lights and sirens active.

Richards is described as homeless on the arrest report. He has four felony convictions (one violent) and eight misdemeanor convictions (none violent) and has served two state prison sentences (one out of Marion County and one out of Citrus County), with his most recent release in January 2024. A court document notes that he has an extensive criminal history in South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, and Oklahoma, along with three active out-of-state warrants. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $350,000.

Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office told us they are investigating a shooting that occurred on September 11 and will release more information tomorrow. Lt. Keagon Weatherford wrote, “All individuals involved in this incident are accounted for and there is no apparent danger to the community.”

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.