Ohio man arrested for battery of police officer after allegedly stealing two shopping carts of groceries because the first cart was stolen before he could sell it

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Peter Gabriel Dominguez, 24, of Cleveland, Ohio, was arrested yesterday after allegedly stealing two shopping carts of groceries from Walmart because the first cart was stolen before he could sell its contents; he also allegedly hit a police officer, grabbed his radio, and provided a false name and date of birth.

A Gainesville Police Department officer reported that Dominguez stole a full shopping cart of groceries (unknown value) from Walmart (5700 NW 23rd Street) at about 10:41 a.m. on November 11 and then returned to the store at about 12:58 p.m. and stole a second full shopping cart of groceries valued at $256.75. Both incidents were witnessed and recorded by a Walmart Loss Prevention Officer.

The police officer reportedly found Dominguez, who was wearing the same clothing as the man in the Walmart surveillance video, walking in the shopping center at 6250 NW 23rd Street, stopped him, and told him he was being detained for the second shoplifting incident.

Post Miranda, Dominguez reportedly gave the officer another name and date of birth and denied he had ever been at Walmart. When the officer said he had been caught on video, Dominguez admitted being at Walmart but denied stealing anything.

The officer found a driver’s license under the name and date of birth that Dominguez had provided, but the picture did not look like Dominguez. When the officer asked Dominguez for his real name, Dominguez reportedly said it was his real name and “police always mistake him for that person.” He reportedly said he did not have an ID on him.

When the officer tried to arrest Dominguez, he reportedly backed up and tried to run; he fell on the ground, then got back up while the officer told him to get back on the ground. Dominguez allegedly grabbed the officer’s vest and tried to pull equipment off the vest; he allegedly grabbed the officer’s radio and ripped it free, tearing the pouch and the straps holding it in place. Dominguez allegedly ripped the officer’s lapel radio from his vest, depriving the officer of access to communications.

The officer reportedly told Dominguez he would be Tased if he continued resisting, and after Dominguez allegedly fled again, the officer successfully deployed his Taser and placed Dominguez in handcuffs.

Once Dominguez was in handcuffs, he reportedly said he had something in his pocket that didn’t belong to him. A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a small pipe, and Dominguez reportedly said it was used to smoke crack cocaine, but he wasn’t the last one to use it. His true identity was discovered after a search of his wallet.

A store owner in the shopping center reportedly witnessed the entire incident and corroborated the officer’s account.

On the way to the jail, Dominguez reportedly admitted to both shoplifting incidents; he said he had tried to sell the stolen items in the Pineridge area, but the items were taken from him, so he returned for a second time to get more items to sell. He also reportedly admitted to using a fake name, which he said was his brother’s identity.

Dominguez, who told officials he has been in Florida for about two months, has been charged with battery on a police officer, depriving an officer of the means of communication, resisting an officer with violence, providing a false identity to a law enforcement officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of theft. He has no criminal history, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $145,000 and ordered a mental health evaluation.

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.