Pair arrested for allegedly luring woman to apartment, then attacking her and stealing her car

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Eve’yante Dananeisha Grant, 25, and Bristal Jean Zavala, 25, were arrested early this morning after allegedly luring a woman to Zavala’s apartment, then attacking her and stealing her car and other items.

The victim told a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer that she has known Zavala for a week and only met Grant the day of the attack. She said Zavala asked her to come to her apartment to talk, and when the victim arrived at Zavala’s apartment, Grant was there. The victim said Zavala seemed “high and out of it” and that Zavala attacked her for no reason, punching her in the face with a closed fist. The victim said Zavala also ripped her clothes, then took her phone and car keys and left with Grant. Zavala allegedly gave the car keys to Grant, and the victim said she saw Grant get in her car and drive away; her purse and wallet were in the car. Zavala reportedly left in a separate car.

The victim reportedly had visible swelling to her nose and both eyes, with contusions under her eyes; the reporting officer described her injuries as a “significant amount of damage to her face.”

Zavala later returned to her apartment complex and was reportedly found in a wooded area behind her apartment by officers at the scene; she reportedly said she was there to pick up trash.

A witness told a GPD officer that Zavala picked her up at 1304 E. University Avenue and that Zavala had blood on her right hand. The witness said Zavala showed her multiple photos of the victim’s injuries.

A search incident to Zavala’s arrest reportedly produced the victim’s EBT card, tucked into her pants.

Post Miranda, Zavala reportedly admitted that she pushed the victim down the stairs and kneed her in the face, possibly breaking her nose. She reportedly changed her story several times, originally leaving Grant out entirely and claiming she didn’t know what happened to the victim’s car. In one version of the story, she reportedly said the victim had forced her way into her apartment and stolen multiple Xanax pills; she ultimately admitted that the victim had not stolen anything from her and that Grant was present. She reportedly said that Grant never hit the victim and that no robbery took place except that Grant took the victim’s car; she said she found the victim’s EBT card in Grant’s wallet along with one of her credit cards and put them both in her pants.

A GPD officer saw the stolen car while patrolling on East University Avenue and saw Grant park the car at Food Max; the officer arrested Grant there.

A search of the car reportedly produced a purse containing Zavala’s and the victim’s driver’s licenses, 5.7 grams of suspected Xanax, and one Ecstasy pill, which tested positive for methamphetamine.

Post Miranda, Grant reportedly said Zavala gave her the car, although she knew it belonged to the victim, and that the Xanax belonged to Zavala. She said the Ecstasy also belonged to Zavala because Grant only uses Molly.

Grant has been charged with grand theft of a vehicle and drug possession. She has a juvenile criminal history and is on probation after pleading nolo contendere to child neglect; this will be her second violation of probation. Judge Thomas Jaworski ordered her held without bond for violating probation and set bail at $100,000 on the new charges.

Zavala has been charged with robbery and felony battery. She has convictions in California and Nevada and has been in the area for about a year. Judge Jaworski set bail at $100,000.

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.