Man arrested in 53rd Avenue CVS parking lot, charged with shoplifting, battery on a law enforcement officer, and making death threats

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Justin Phillip Bryan, 37, was arrested yesterday afternoon after employees at the CVS at 4145 NW 53rd Avenue reported that he had stolen a can of beer. When a Gainesville Police Department officer tried to wake him up, Bryan allegedly became aggressive toward the officer, kicked him, and threatened his life.

According to the arrest report, a CVS employee reported that Bryan had taken a can of Coors Light beer and walked out of the store without paying for it. They said that Bryan has done this several times in the past. When the officer arrived, the employee pointed toward Bryan, who was sleeping at the edge of the store’s parking lot.

The officer reported that when he made contact with Bryan, Bryan was sleeping next to an empty can of Coors Light beer. He awakened Bryan and reported that Bryan immediately became aggressive, standing and taking “a fighting stance” while yelling at the officer. The officer said he ordered him to stay back, at which point Bryan allegedly “took a stance as if he were preparing to charge at me.” The officer targeted Bryan with his Taser and ordered him to get on the ground while waiting for backup, but he reported that Bryan continued to act aggressively and ignore his commands.

When another unit arrived, Bryan lay down on the ground and was handcuffed. While the officer was patting him down for weapons, Bryan allegedly kicked the officer in the groin. The officer also reported that on the way to the jail, Bryan threatened him, saying things like, “I have you for the rest of your life,” “I know where you live,” and “You won’t make it to your next birthday.”

The officer also noted that Bryan has a warrant out of Wisconsin on multiple charges, but Wisconsin is not accepting extradition because of COVID.

Bryan pled nolo contendere to resisting arrest on January 25, 2022, and served 5 days in jail; on February 23 and April 7, he pled nolo contendere to trespassing charges and was fined a few hundred dollars for each. He was sentenced to 6 months probation for stealing a bottle of Jim Beam Apple in November 2021 and resisting arrest; that probation was revoked after the January arrest, and the penalty was 5 days in jail, served concurrently with the January 25 jail term.

Bryan has been charged with larceny, battery on a law enforcement officer, and making a death threat and is being held on $80,000 bail.

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.