Man on probation arrested for burglary, battery, and robbery

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Joseph Harold Wiggs, 23, was arrested early this morning for allegedly grabbing a man’s phone, damaging the victim’s car, hitting the victim, and preventing the victim from calling 911.

The responding Gainesville Police Department officer reported that Wiggs and the victim met at Fred Cone Park at about 12:03 a.m. on December 8 to talk, and while they were both in the victim’s car, Wiggs allegedly grabbed the victim’s phone and got out of the car to delete things from the phone. The victim tried to call 911 from his Tesla, but Wiggs allegedly hung up all the calls from the phone.

When the victim walked a short distance away, Wiggs allegedly went back to the Tesla and started kicking it, breaking the rearview mirror and breaking interior panels off the vehicle. Wiggs reportedly told the victim to get back into the car, but when the victim reached for his phone, Wiggs allegedly hit the victim with a closed fist before throwing the phone into the car and fleeing on foot.

The officer located Wiggs at his home, where Wiggs initially denied knowing the victim and said he had been home all night. He later reportedly changed his story and said he had met the victim to talk and they got into an argument, but nothing physical happened. He said he walked home after the argument.

Post Miranda, Wiggs reportedly said the victim hit him during their argument, so he walked away. He denied snatching the victim’s phone, hanging up the 911 calls, or damaging the victim’s car, but after he was told that Teslas collect surveillance video, he reportedly admitted to taking the phone but said he picked it up from the center console. He said he left but returned to give the victim his phone; he still denied hanging up the 911 calls, damaging the car, or hitting the victim.

The officer reported that neither man had any obvious injuries. The victim estimated that the damage to his car was about $1,000.

Wiggs, a Violent Felony Offender of Special Concern who is on probation for threatening to shoot a woman and kicking a police officer, has been charged with preventing communication with 911 services, burglary of an unoccupied vehicle, robbery by sudden snatching, and battery. He has three felony convictions (three violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (one violent). Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $180,000.

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.