Homeless man, recently released from prison, arrested for stealing phone and bank cards from car in Midtown

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Brandon Lee Richardson, 29, was arrested yesterday after allegedly stealing a phone and wallet from a car in midtown and then using the card at multiple stores.

At about 7:12 p.m. on November 26, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to a Midtown residence, where the victim said she was loading up her car to travel for Thanksgiving when she came outside and found a car door open.

She said she realized her cell phone and wallet were missing, and she spent some time trying to locate the phone before calling the police. After the officer arrived, the victim said her phone’s location was showing at the Chevron at 1024 W. University Avenue.

A few hours later, the victim said her card had been used at the Gate convenience store, Publix, and Chevron in the Midtown area, and the officer reviewed surveillance video from the Chevron.

Employees at the Chevron provided the officer with details of the fraudulent transaction, and surveillance video at the time of the transaction showed a black male purchasing cigarillos using a red card, which matched the description of the victim’s bank card. The victim was wearing all black and was carrying a book bag.

While canvassing the area for the suspect, the officer found Richardson sitting at McDonald’s (1200 W. University Avenue), wearing the same clothing as the man in the video and carrying an identical book bag. The officer saw the same type of cigarillos hanging out of Richardson’s pocket.

A Chevron employee identified Richardson as the man who made the fraudulent transaction and said he is a “regular” who comes into the store “three to four times a day.”

Post Miranda, Richardson reportedly admitted going to the Chevron multiple times that day. He said he purchased cigarillos with a “gift card” because that was the only card he had, but he reportedly changed his story and said he had a “red” bank card that day. He reportedly said the card was given to him by a “random” guy he had smoked crack with earlier in the day. However, he could not provide a name or description of that person.

Richardson initially denied knowing where the card was stolen but later said he walked past that location every day; he denied breaking into the victim’s car.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a small amount of “crack” cocaine.

Richardson reportedly said he was in the Midtown area because he was released from prison a few weeks ago and didn’t have anywhere to stay.

Richardson, who is designated as a violent offender of special concern, has been charged with burglary of an unoccupied vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, and fraudulent use of a bank card. He has 15 felony convictions and eight misdemeanor convictions and was released from prison on October 29 after serving seven concurrent five-year sentences. Judge Jonathan Ramsey set bail at $75,000.

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.