Homeless man on probation arrested for false armed disturbance call with 12 GPD units responding

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kentrail Rasheem Lawrence, 30, was arrested yesterday after allegedly making a false 911 call reporting an armed disturbance, which led to a priority police response from 12 Gainesville Police Department units and a K-9 team.

At about 5:18 p.m. on November 15, at least 12 Gainesville Police Department units responded to a call in the Pineridge area; the caller said his boyfriend had strangled him, threatened him with pepper spray and a knife, and had a firearm concealed in his clothing.

The first officer to arrive spoke with both Lawrence and his boyfriend and determined that there was no active disturbance. Lawrence’s boyfriend reportedly allowed an officer to search him and his bag, and no weapons were found.

Officers interviewed a group of people standing outside near Lawrence, and they reportedly said nothing had happened and that Lawrence had made up everything he said.

Post Miranda, Lawrence reportedly declined to answer any questions.

The arresting officer reported that the 911 call was dispatched as a “priority one Armed Disturbance,” with about 12 GPD units responding, including a K-9 unit, with lights and sirens active and “driving at speeds that would potentially put the officers at risk, along with the public.” The report notes that the cost of this response “well exceeds over $100 worth of emergency services.”

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a crack pipe.

Lawrence, who is described as homeless in the arrest report, has been charged with misuse of 911 services, making a false report, and possession of drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors. He has three felony convictions (one violent) and six misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he is on probation for aggravated battery. Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $35,000 on the new charges; he has not been booked yet for violating probation.

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.