Homeless man arrested for intentionally drowning girlfriend’s bearded dragon and throwing a rock through an apartment complex window

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Omarion Dwayne Thomas, 19, was arrested yesterday for intentionally drowning his then-girlfriend’s bearded dragon and then, a few days later, throwing a rock through the window of the community center at an apartment complex.

Thomas’s ex-girlfriend told a Gainesville Police Department officer that when she went to work on November 18, Thomas was in her room with her bearded dragon. When she came home, Thomas was still in her room, and a blanket was covering Ziggy’s glass tank. When she removed the blanket, she saw Ziggy floating in water that had been added to the tank. She said she tried to save Ziggy, but it was obvious that he had drowned.

The officer noted that bearded dragons are desert creatures that need very little water, and there was no reason for Thomas to add water to the tank. Since there was nothing for Ziggy to stand on, it appeared he had tried to swim until he was exhausted and drowned.

Ziggy’s owner said Thomas had nothing to say when she asked him to explain why he had done this, so she told him to leave.

On November 19, Thomas was trespassed from the common areas of the Oxford Manor apartment complex, where his ex-girlfriend lives.

A Gainesville Police Department officer responded to Oxford Manor (2777 SW Archer Road) at about 12:43 p.m. on November 22, and an employee showed the officer surveillance video that showed Thomas picking up a large concrete rock and throwing it into the large glass window of the community center, resulting in damage estimated at $3,200. Thomas fled before the officer arrived.

At 6:27 p.m. on November 22, the same employee called the police to report that Thomas was back on the property, and an officer responded to arrest him.

Post Miranda, Thomas reportedly admitted that he had thrown a rock into the window and said he didn’t really know why he did it. He also reportedly denied having any contact with law enforcement on the 19th, when he was issued a trespass warning from the apartment complex. He said he was hanging out at the complex “for no reason.”

According to the arrest report, Thomas is homeless and has no valid reason for being in the common areas of the apartment complex. The employee reportedly said that Thomas has broken other windows and has stolen packages from residents and other items from staff over the past month; additional charges are expected.

Thomas has been charged with animal cruelty causing excessive pain or death, property damage over $1,000, and trespassing. He has one misdemeanor conviction for shoplifting and was fined after a deferred prosecution agreement was revoked because he failed to comply with the conditions of the agreement. Judge Robert Groeb set bail at $10,000 for the animal cruelty charge and $15,000 for the charges at the apartment complex.

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.