Homeless man arrested for attempting to steal Lyft driver’s car

Staff report

Updated on January 3 with criminal history and bail information.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Alexander Neely Shepherd, 34, was arrested last night after allegedly trying to steal a Lyft driver’s car.

At about 8:20 p.m. on December 31, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to a call from a Lyft driver who said he had been driving Shepherd, another man, and Shepherd’s dog from Jacksonville to Gainesville when his GPS told him to turn right. He said Shepherd, who was sitting behind him, grabbed his headrest and said, “Keep driving” before grabbing his hoodie and pulling it back.

The victim said he braked hard and pulled over, and he and the passengers got out of the car. Shepherd allegedly grabbed his backpack, got into the driver’s seat of the car, and tried to drive away, but he was unable to move the car because the emergency brake was activated. The victim called 911.

The victim called 911, and Shepherd reportedly threw his bag out of the car and grabbed his dog before running into a nearby wooded area. A K-9 team responded, and when Shepherd heard the announcements from the K-9 officer that he should come out, he came out of the woods.

Post Miranda, Shepherd reportedly did not want to say anything.

Shepherd, who is described as homeless on his arrest report, has been charged with unarmed attempted carjacking. His address is listed as California, and he has no criminal convictions but has an active warrant out of Georgia. Judge Adam Lee set bail at $150,000 and ordered a mental health evaluation.

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.