Homeless man arrested for armed burglary of home near his campsite

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Antonio Medina, 35, was arrested yesterday and charged with armed burglary of a dwelling, petit theft, and possession of drug paraphernalia after allegedly taking a pipe from the porch of a residence near his campsite.

Medina is reportedly homeless and camps behind the victims’ neighbor’s home in the 100 block of NW 11th Street. The victims told a Gainesville Police Department officer they have suspected for some time that someone has been entering their house and taking items, so they set up a Ring camera. The camera reportedly caught Medina trying to open their front door on January 19 and then walking away.

Yesterday the residents of the house were in their bedrooms at about 6:15 p.m. when one resident heard a noise, came out of his room, and saw someone leaving the house. The camera reportedly showed Medina entering their enclosed front porch, and they realized that a $150 pipe that had been left on a table inside the porch was missing. The three victims reportedly confronted Medina in their backyard, and they said he promised to get the pipe back to them by 7:30 p.m., but an argument broke out and Medina reportedly wanted to start fighting, so one of the victims called 911 and they stayed with Medina until an officer arrived.

Post Miranda, Medina reportedly denied entering the house or taking the pipe but eventually said he couldn’t get the pipe back because it was in a car somewhere in the city. A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a “very sharp handle-less knife blade” about seven inches long, concealed in his waistband; a pipe used to smoke methamphetamine; and a small baggie with methamphetamine residue. Medina reportedly said he had the knife because “Gainesville is a serious place.”

Medina’s address is listed as Pittsgrove, NJ, and he has no previous arrest record in Alachua County. Bail information is unavailable on weekends.

The opinions expressed by letter or opinion writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AlachuaChronicle.com. Letters may be submitted to info@alachuachronicle.com and are published at the discretion of the editor.