Homeless man arrested for car theft after high-speed car chase and foot chase
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – George Henry Thompas, 36, was arrested late last night after allegedly stealing a car, fleeing from officers at high speed twice, then fleeing on foot.
A Gainesville Police Department officer responded to a call at about 2:00 p.m. yesterday regarding a car that had been stolen when the victim left her keys on the counter at a business at 2659 NW 13th Street. Video surveillance in the business reportedly showed a man picking up the keys; the man was wearing a red shirt and carrying a yellow reflective vest.
At 9:47 p.m., the victim notified officers that the vehicle was located at 3500 SW Williston Road. Officers attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the driver turned off the headlights and fled at high speed. Officers reported that the driver was a black man wearing a yellow top.
At 11:09 p.m., officers received notification that the vehicle was at SW 35th Blvd and Archer Road. An officer saw the vehicle in the Publix parking lot, and the driver again fled at a high rate of speed.
At about 11:30 p.m., an officer saw the vehicle at the intersection of SE 1st Terrace and Williston Road. When the officer pulled up to the vehicle, the driver fled on foot. Thompas was apprehended in the woods a short time later, wearing a yellow rain jacket. Officers reportedly found a drawstring bag on the ground nearby that contained the victim’s wallet, which had been in the vehicle.
A search incident to arrest reportedly produced about 2.5 grams of marijuana, packaged in baggies.
Thompas, whose listed address is GRACE Marketplace, has been charged with burglary, grand theft of an automobile, marijuana possession, two counts of fleeing at high speed, and resisting arrest without violence. He is also facing a petit theft charge from 2021. He has one felony drug conviction from 2017. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $153,100.
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.Â
Imagine that.
He turned the lights off on the car yet he was still able to see. The lights in Gainesville sure are burning bright…except for leadership.
Their lights are on but nobody’s home…still.
Another Rodney Long lookalike keeping Gainesville’s vibrant bail bonds industry chummin! Thank you, RL for helping lawyers, judges and other monopolists well fed and *their* lights turned on 🤡👹🤬😡
Finally, a decent bond from MJ!