Homeless man arrested on aggravated stalking and drug distribution charges

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Michael Darnell White, 52, was arrested yesterday and charged with aggravated stalking and three drug charges.

The stalking victim told a Gainesville Police Department officer that she has known White for the past 30 years, but he has recently sent her hundreds of messages threatening both her and her boyfriend. After he sent over 30 messages from his own phone, she blocked him, and he allegedly sent 200 more messages from a different number. The messages reportedly said he was coming over to her home and her job and threatened harm and death to her boyfriend. The victim had previously changed her own phone number in an effort to stop the messages and blocked multiple numbers that were allegedly used by White.

On August 7, the victim said she saw White in the parking lot at her workplace and called 911, but White fled before an officer could arrive. The responding officer reported that White could be seen on surveillance video, both in the parking lot and inside the store, staring at the victim.

On August 8, the victim received several messages, including one that said, “u bout to get a surprise of a lifetime.”

On August 9, the victim heard a knock on her door, but nobody was there. She also received multiple messages asking whether White could spend time with her.

On August 10, the victim received multiple threatening messages including “jail or dead, I be there tomorrow.” The victim told an officer that her roommates had left the door unlocked during the day, and she found White inside her residence at about 2 p.m. She said she yelled at him and he fled before an officer could arrive.

On August 12, White allegedly stared at the victim from outside her workplace but fled when she called 911. The responding officer reportedly saw White on surveillance video, waiting in the parking lot.

At about 7:23 p.m. last night, an officer saw White on a bicycle in the 2100 block of NE Waldo Road after a witness called to report his location. The officer reportedly gave numerous warnings to stop, but White rode for about a block before stopping.

White was arrested on the aggravated stalking charge, and a search incident to arrest reportedly produced 15.4 grams of MDPV (molly), an amount typically indicative of narcotics sales; 4 grams of crack cocaine; 1.6 grams of powder cocaine; and four unused dime baggies.

White has been charged with aggravated stalking with a credible threat, possession of trafficking amounts of phenethylamines, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.

White, who is described as homeless in court documents, has 15 felony convictions (8 violent) and 12 misdemeanor convictions (one violent). He has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2007. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail on the aggravated stalking charge, pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial, and she set bail at $210,000 on the drug charges.

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.