Homeless man arrested for stealing six-pack of beer, hitting clerk

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Johnny Johnson, Jr., 60, was arrested early this morning after allegedly taking a six-pack of beer from a convenience store and hitting a clerk who tried to stop him.

Johnson, who is listed as homeless on the arrest report, allegedly took a six-pack of beer from the Circle K at 1515 N. Main Street at about 1:30 a.m.; a clerk told a Gainesville Police Department officer that when she tried to stop him from leaving the store with the beer, he hit her twice on the side of her face. The officer reportedly reviewed video footage of the incident and was able to confirm the clerk’s story.

The clerk told the officer that Johnson had left on foot; the officer found him walking in the 1300 block of NE 2nd Avenue and made contact with him.

Post Miranda, Johnson reportedly said, “I took the beer and she hit me.” He also reportedly said he took the beer to sell it and get money for food and that as he was leaving, the clerk hit him in the face.

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Johnson has been charged with simple battery and petit theft. He has 18 felony convictions and is a Registered Career Offender who has served five state prison sentences; bail information is not available on weekends.

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. 

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