Jacksonville man arrested for doing donuts on congested street in Midtown at bar closing time

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A’niaus Devaraus Ray, 33, of Jacksonville, was arrested early Sunday morning for two incidents, about 20 minutes apart, of doing donuts in the 1000 block of W. University Avenue at 2 a.m., with heavy traffic due to bar closings.

A Gainesville Police Department officer reported that Ray was identified as the driver of a vehicle doing “vehicle burnouts/donuts” in the roadway; this “involves a rapid exhibition of acceleration coupled with a decreased ability to control the vehicle.”

Officers reportedly saw Ray doing donuts twice within 20 minutes in the same crowded pedestrian area; they noted the first three characters of his tag during the first incident, and when he was stopped after the second incident, his tag had the same first three characters.

Officers also noted that Ray’s car is distinctive because it is orange and has a large decal of a tiger that extends across the length of the vehicle.

Post Miranda, Ray reportedly denied doing burnouts/donuts or operating the vehicle in a reckless mannger.

Ray has been charged with two counts of racing on a public road, both misdemeanors. His address is listed as Lake City on the arrest report, but a court document indicates that he told Court Services he lives in Jacksonville. Ray has two felony convictions (two violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in June 2024. Judge Mitchell Bishop set bail at $1,000.

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. 

  • Here’s a free friendly reminder if over half the letters in your 1st name are vowels, than you’re probably a convicted felon. Where do people make up these names. 6 letters and 4 of them are vowels how’s that even possible. I am waiting to see the headline on here when it says AEIOUY was arrested today in midtown.

  • Isn’t 33 a bit old to be acting like a child?

    Typical liberal city. It appears they were willing to let it go until the 2nd incident occurred 20 minutes later.

  • These racing on the highways and reckless statutes need to be upgraded to felonies right off the bat, not just after injuries.

  • He’s 33 years old and out doing donuts at 2 am. I guess another one doesn’t have a job to go to on Monday? Unlike all the rest of us dupes who work and pay taxes for your lazy a$$.

    • Early Sunday morning.
      He probably wasn’t planning on going to the early church service.

  • Q: why did he come here from Jax to commit a traffic crime?
    A: “Judge Mitchell Bishop set bail at $1,000.”
    ACLUSPLCDNC 👿🤡👹👺💩

  • 1,000$?!? Wtf, I got attacked and beat up in my front yard, then falsely arrested by hspd and charged with battery for the first time in my life and my bond was 10k!!!! Tf is the deal with giving white people stupid bonds if ANY and black people get ROR or super low bond amount?!?!?

  • “1000 block of W. University Avenue at 2 a.m.”

    Why do I keep seeing these same words in so many police reports?

    • cause it’s downtown where all the bars are??? do you people even live around here, something wrong with you.

  • always someone from jacksonville, stay the hell over there, don’t come to gainesville, go to georgia

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