Man on probation arrested for stealing and selling items from vehicles near campus

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Justin Michael Cook, 43, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with drug possession and resisting an officer without violence; yesterday, additional charges of car burglary, theft, and dealing in stolen property were added.

The first victim reportedly parked his truck outside his fraternity house at 121 SW 13th Street on March 25. The next morning, he found that a wallet, multiple credit/debit cards, an Apple AirTag, a tan backpack, a MacBook Air laptop, and clothes were stolen, with a total estimated value of $1,560. The victim’s mother arrived in town and started asking people in the area for information; she made contact with a woman who had the victim’s laptop, the AirTag, and driver’s license. The woman reportedly told the victim’s mother that she had purchased the items from Cook on March 25 for $300 and that Cook was “adamant” that they were not stolen. The woman told the victim’s mother that when she heard someone was asking about the laptop, she realized it was the laptop she had purchased, and she gave it to the victim’s mother.

The woman also reportedly said that Cook had a tan backpack filled with other items he was trying to sell. She provided his name to officers.

The second victim reportedly parked her car outside her apartment in the 900 block of SW 4th Avenue on the evening of March 24; the next morning, she discovered that items had been stolen from the car, including a wallet, cash, gift cards, and three gold rings.

A video posted on the Ring neighborhood portal in the area reportedly shows Cook pulling on the door handles of cars, carrying the tan backpack and a white Adidas bag with black stripes.

Gainesville Police Department officers located Cook at Campus Walk Apartments (914 SW 8th Avenue) at about 4:10 p.m. on March 26; he was reportedly carrying the tan backpack and the Adidas bag. Cook allegedly tried to flee on foot, ignoring commands to stop, and was taken into custody after a brief foot chase.

Cook was also arrested on three warrants from Marion County.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced small amounts of various drugs, including MDPV; the first victim’s jacket; the stolen backpack; and the second victim’s ID card, rings, and gift cards. The second victim’s wallet and cash were not recovered.

Post Miranda, Cook reportedly said he had found the stolen items in the trash can and denied breaking into any cars or stealing anything.

Cook has one felony conviction (non-violent) and one misdemeanor conviction (non-violent); he is on probation in another county for possession of methamphetamines. Judge Thomas Jaworski ordered him held on $15,000 bail for the drug charge and resisting an officer, and Judge Gloria Walker added $15,500 bail for the charges related to the vehicle burglaries.

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.