Homeless man arrested in Waldo for possession of stolen scooters from Gainesville

Staff report

WALDO, Fla. – Charlie Paul Hill, 69, was arrested on Monday after deputies found stolen scooters at a vacant property in Waldo and determined that Hill had been living at the property for about a month without authorization.

On the afternoon of October 20, Gainesville Police Department asked Alachua County Sheriff’s Office to canvass the area of NE 139th Terrace because trackers on two stolen scooters showed they were in that area. A deputy went to the area and saw a yellow Moped, blue tents, and other miscellaneous scattered items at a residence in the 13900 block of NE 148th Avenue. The deputy called the property owner, who said he had not given anyone permission to use the property or go inside the house.

Hill was reportedly found inside the house and was detained.

Post Miranda, Hill reportedly said someone in Waldo dropped off a red Moped that he knew was stolen; the deputy reported that the scooter appeared to have been “hotwired.” Hill reportedly said that he bought the yellow Moped from someone else in Waldo for $10; he said he didn’t know if it was stolen, but “it could have been.” Both scooters were reported stolen in Gainesville.

Hill also reportedly admitted that he knew he did not have permission to stay at the house, but he attempted to justify his presence by saying he was going to clean up the property.

A search of the property reportedly produced several baggies under Hill’s bed; one had less than a gram of fentanyl, and the others contained less than a gram of methamphetamine. Two cylindrical tubes, typically used for consuming narcotics, were also reportedly found.

Hill reportedly denied knowing anything about methamphetamine under his bed, but the deputy noted that he seemed nervous and “rapidly changed the subject.”

Detectives are investigating whether other bicycles and scooters on the property were stolen.

Hill has been charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, two counts of dealing in stolen property, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has 32 felony convictions (three violent) and five misdemeanor convictions (non-violent) and has served four state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2021. Senior Judge Bo Bayer set bail at $600,000.

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.