Lake City man charged with multiple counts of home invasion robbery and kidnapping after allegedly following store employees home

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Calvin James Souter, Jr., 23, of Lake City, was arrested today and charged with six counts of armed home invasion robbery, six counts of false imprisonment, and intimidating a witness after allegedly following two store employees home from Food Max.

On January 26, 2024, Souter and his two co-defendants allegedly followed two employees home from Food Max at 1304 E. University Avenue to their apartment. As the two employees were entering their apartment, Souter allegedly shoved one of them to the ground and forced his way into the apartment. There were eight family members inside the apartment, including three children under the age of 10.

The defendants allegedly held the family at gunpoint and demanded money; one of them allegedly put the barrel of his gun to a victim’s head and told her he would shoot her if she moved.

Two of the defendants allegedly went upstairs and brought down one adult victim while keeping three children in their beds. One victim was reportedly found hiding in a bathroom with a small child, and the defendants allegedly forced her to show them her phone to prove she had not called 911. One of the defendants allegedly put a gun to the small child’s head and demanded money.

The victims were reportedly robbed of the store’s closing deposits (about $10,000), about $2,000 cash from their pockets, a wallet, and a cell phone. All the victims’ cell phones were reportedly collected and turned off so they could not call for help.

Sworn complaints have been filed against all three defendants for other robberies, including an armed robbery of the closing deposit and other items from an employee of the Chevron at 1425 SE Hawthorne Road on January 15, an attempted armed robbery of the same victim on January 25 at his home, and an attempt to break into the same victim’s home (including shooting at the home) on January 30.

Gainesville Police Department officers believe that the robberies are connected with similar robberies of business owners in nearby counties that appear to target specific minorities.

Souter has an extensive criminal history in Columbia County, including a juvenile conviction for armed robbery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and false imprisonment; criminal mischief and resisting an officer; simple battery; driving without a valid license; and dropped charges for domestic battery and firing a weapon. Judge William Davis recommended bail of $610,000 on the arrest warrant, but the bail amount may be changed at Souter’s First Appearance hearing tomorrow. Sworn complaints have been filed for other robberies, but Souter has not yet been booked on those charges.

More information on these incidents, along with the arrests of two other suspects, can be found here.

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.