Man arrested after allegedly following and threatening multiple police officers

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Joshua Garrett Forbes, 34, was arrested early yesterday morning and charged with three counts of aggravated stalking and one count of possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony after allegedly following multiple police officers in his car and threatening to “take out someone with a badge.”

Gainesville Police Department officers first made contact with Forbes at about 2:25 a.m. on Monday morning when they reportedly saw him standing by his car at 1208 E. University Avenue, yelling and punching the car. Officers learned that he was having trouble with the transmission of the car, but Forbes reportedly became upset while they were speaking with them and declined further help, so they left to defuse the situation.

Officers then began conducting a security check at 1221 E. University Avenue and reported that Forbes repeatedly drove back and forth past them on E. University Avenue, slowing to look directly at officers each time he passed; when the officers were done and getting ready to leave, Forbes reportedly drove into the parking lot and followed a patrol car as it left the business.

The patrol car drove westbound on E. University Avenue, with Forbes following; the officer made several turns to evade Forbes.

Forbes later passed a second patrol car and reportedly made a quick U-turn to follow that car; the officer was also able to evade Forbes after making several quick turns.

At about 2:45 a.m., Forbes began following a third patrol car in the 600 block of W. University Avenue while the officer was returning home after his shift. He turned onto SW 13th Street and saw a car approaching from the rear at a high rate of speed. Forbes allegedly tailgated the patrol car, which turned onto SW Archer Road. The officer reportedly gave Forbes multiple opportunities to pass him, but Forbes allegedly continued to follow the car closely. As the cars approached a red light, Forbes allegedly drove so close to the patrol car that the officer believed he would be hit.

Around the 3500 block of SW Archer Road, the officer began actively trying to get behind Forbes’ car to pull him over, but Forbes allegedly kept changing lanes and making U-turns to stay behind the patrol car. A few blocks later, the officer accelerated through a yellow light and then made a U-turn because he didn’t want to lead Forbes to his home.

When the officer and Forbes encountered another marked patrol car, Forbes reportedly moved into another lane and signaled a right turn on SW 34th Street. The two officers conducted a traffic stop, and Forbes allegedly ignored multiple commands to show his hands, making furtive movements near his waistline. When Forbes was removed from the car, officers reportedly saw a 6-inch fixed curved blade knife where he had been sitting. A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a sheath in his waistband that matched the knife, and a search of the car reportedly produced a K-Bar-style knife about 10 inches long and an expandable baton that was within reach of the driver’s seat.

Forbes reportedly stated spontaneously that he’d had problems earlier with an officer, and he was hoping the officer in the car he was following was the same officer.

Post Miranda, Forbes reportedly said he wanted to confront the officer he’d had a problem with and wanted to “take out someone with a badge.” He said he didn’t know the name of the officer he was upset with. When he was asked about the knife, he reportedly said he had it ready, but he would not say what he was ready for.

While in handcuffs, Forbes allegedly made repeated threats to physically harm officers.

Forbes has seven misdemeanor convictions (five violent). Judge Walter Green set bail at $200,000.

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.