Homeless man arrested for trying to enter locked GPD building

Staff report

Updated on June 15 with bail amount.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Chase Alexander Franchette, 33, was arrested early this morning for allegedly making multiple attempts to enter a locked Gainesville Police Department building.

At about 5 a.m. on June 13, three Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers spoke with Franchette outside the department’s Property and Evidence Building (4585 NW 6th Street), where Franchette was reportedly trying to open one of the building’s front doors. When they asked why he was there, Franchette reportedly said he believed his girlfriend was inside the building, but he could not provide his girlfriend’s name. An officer told him to leave the property, and Franchette reportedly said he understood and walked away.

A short time later, two people approached GPD officers and said they had seen a man trying to open doors on the south side of the same building. Two officers again spoke to Franchette, who reportedly changed his story and said he was searching for his cell phone.

Post Miranda, Franchette reportedly changed his story again and said he had returned to the building because someone in charge had given him permission to be there; he said again that he believed his girlfriend was inside. He was reportedly unable to provide any information about the person who had given him permission to be there.

Noting that Franchette was unable to provide a reasonable explanation for his repeated presence on the property, the officers arrested him for loitering/prowling.

Franchette, who is described as homeless in court documents, has one previous arrest, for driving without a valid license in 2014, but the charge was dropped. Judge David Kreider set bail at $5,000.

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.