Newberry man arrested for fleeing from police, possession of stolen firearm

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kendall James Dacosta, 20, of Newberry, was arrested yesterday after allegedly fleeing from law enforcement on a motorcycle with no tag; a search incident to arrest reportedly produced a gun that had been stolen in Miami Gardens.

At about 7:46 a.m. on November 4, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper saw a motorcycle driving eastbound on the sidewalk along NW 39th Avenue between NW 34th Street and NW 43rd Street; the trooper reported that traffic was heavy in the area, due to a crash at the intersection of NW 39th Avenue and NW 34th Street.

When the trooper tried to catch up to the motorcyclist, the motorcyclist allegedly drove onto the roadway from the sidewalk. The trooper reported that there was no tag on the motorcycle, so he directed the motorcyclist to pull over and activated his lights and sirens; the motorcyclist allegedly crossed over lanes of stopped traffic and drove onto the median instead of stopping, but traffic eventually forced him to stop.

The trooper arrested the driver, identified as Dacosta, and Dacosta reportedly said he had a handgun in his waistband; the gun was found to be stolen out of Miami Gardens.

Dacosta has been charged with grand theft of a firearm with a previous conviction for grand theft of a firearm, fleeing with lights and sirens activated, and operating an unregistered motor vehicle; he was also cited for driving on the sidewalk. He has an unspecified juvenile conviction from 2022 and one adult conviction in a traffic case. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $26,000.

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.