Man on probation arrested after fleeing from officers into church service; video shows church members ordering police to “Get out of the church!”

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Anthony Lee Gainey, Jr., 33, was arrested yesterday morning after allegedly shoplifting items from a Dollar General and demanding cash from the register before running from officers and escaping after being tased. He ran into a church that was in the middle of a Sunday morning service, resulting in a chaotic scene in which church members told police officers to get out of the church while multiple officers tried to handcuff Gainey.

At about 11:53 a.m., a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to a call from a Dollar General store (1080 NE 16th Avenue). The caller reported that a man had just left the store with items he did not pay for; she later told the officer that Gainey brought several items to the register, refused to pay for them, and then demanded that she give him $100 from the register. When she didn’t comply, she said, the man walked behind the counter, and she feared he would harm her. She said he took a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from behind the counter before leaving the store. She said the man was wearing a white t-shirt, black head covering, and green and pink shorts.

The responding officer reported that he saw Gainey, whose clothes matched the description provided by the vicitm, walking east, about three blocks from the store, carrying a Dollar General bag full of items. The officer got out of his patrol car and ordered Gainey to stop, but he allegedly refused; the officer reportedly grabbed him, but he allegedly pulled away and continued walking away. The officer reported that at one point, Gainey turned, assumed a defensive stance, and said, “You want one?” The officer reportedly targeted his taser on Gainey, who allegedly started walking away again.

A second officer reportedly arrived and cut Gainey off; the first officer ordered Gainey to get on the ground, but he allegedly refused. The second officer tried to grab Gainey, but Gainey allegedly pulled away; the second officer reportedly tased Gainey, who fell to the ground.

The first officer noted, “At this point, any reasonable person would know that they are not only not free to leave, but actually under arrest.” Gainey allegedly got up and ran into a church (1433 NE 16th Avenue) in the middle of a Sunday service, continuing to resist multiple officers who worked to handcuff him; he was eventually detained.

Faye Williams, a social justice activist, reposted a Facebook post from Al Williams that read, “BLACK CHURCH IN GAINESVILLE GOT RAIDED BY GPD IN THE MIDDLE OF CHURCH SERVICE AND THEY DISRESPECTED GOD AND THE BLACK CHURCH THEY WOULDN’T BUSTED UP INTO A WHITE CHURCH BELIEVE THIS.” Video of the scene inside the church can be found here, with church members saying that Gainey has mental health problems and that they could calm him down; a voice can also be heard ordering the police officers to “Get out of the church!”

The arresting officer noted that Gainey is a documented gang member who is on probation for willful child abuse. He has violated probation several times and was found incompetent to proceed in November 2023 and committed to a state mental hospital. He was determined to be competent in June 2024, and he is currently on probation until 2026 with a requirement to enroll in mental health treatment.

Gainey has been charged with unarmed robbery, escape, petit theft, and resisting an officer without violence. He has one felony conviction and is on probation; Judge Meshon Rawls ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a request from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial.

Gainesville City Manager Cynthia W. Curry released the following statement on October 29:

“Parishioners worshiping at Gainesville Christian Center on NE 16th Avenue Sunday morning were interrupted when Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers, who were actively pursing a fleeing subject who had been tased, entered the location. The subject was apprehended and arrested inside the Gainesville Christian Center. 

“I can only imagine how deeply this has affected the parishioners in attendance. It is also extremely upsetting to me that this occurred in the presence of families and children. However, the first and foremost priority for the officers was the safety and security of the parishioners. 

“I, myself, was attending services when church leader Pastor Lenard Gainey called me and Police Chief Nelson Moya. I left my own church service to meet with the congregation and hear firsthand from those who witnessed the incident. 

“GPD is reviewing the incident, and I want to assure the parishioners that I am working closely with Chief Moya who is in communication with Pastor Gainey. I know this incident has raised serious concerns within our community. Still, it is vital to understand all details about this arrest and the perspectives of all those involved to address the lingering concerns about this incident throughout the community.”

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.