Man recently released from prison arrested for burglary and theft

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jabari Malachi Crews, 22, was arrested yesterday morning on charges of burglary, theft, tampering with evidence, and providing false identification to law enforcement.

A Gainesville Police Department (GPD) Officer who was patrolling the Marchwood complex in response to calls about car burglaries heard yelling and saw two men sprinting through the complex; one was reportedly wearing all yellow, and the other was wearing a black hoodie and gray pants. The officer pursued them in his car and saw them go over the fence into Southfork Oaks. The officer gave chase on foot and saw the two men go over another fence into the woods. Other GPD units set up a perimeter, and Crews was reportedly found inside the perimeter, wearing boxer briefs, a t-shirt, and shoes.

The officer asked Crews for his name, and Crews allegedly said it was Jabari Winter, but he later admitted his real name and also admitted being one of the men who ran from Marchwood. Crews reportedly said that he put his hoodie and pants on a back porch nearby; he showed the officer where the clothing items were inside a screened porch. The victim was home at the time and said she did not know Crews or give him permission to enter her porch.

A second victim reportedly approached the officer and said Crews had entered his car and stolen his wallet. A witness reportedly said she had looked out her window and had seen Crews rummaging through the car. The witness reportedly positively identified Crews as the person she had seen taking items from the car.

Crews also allegedly had a shoulder purse in his possession when he was arrested; the purse contained numerous identification and bank cards belonging to a third victim; that victim was contacted and confirmed that the items were missing from her wallet, which she keeps in her car.

Crews was released on November 1 from state prison, where he served a 2-year sentence for burglary, grand theft, and fleeing. He is on probation until 2026 in the same case.

Crews has been charged with two counts of theft, burglary of an occupied dwelling, burglary of an unoccupied vehicle, concealing evidence, providing false identification to law enforcement, and possession of four or fewer pieces of another person’s identification. Bail information is not yet available.

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.