Pair arrested in stolen pick-up truck, one charged with home invasion robbery

Staff report

Updated on November 10 with bail information for Vinales-Soto.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Aamir Jalil Sims, 30, of Gainesville, and Irving Enrique Vinales-Soto, 59, of Hawthorne, were arrested early this morning after Vinales-Soto allegedly forced his way into a home and stole cash and a pick-up truck; Sims, who is on probation, allegedly had cocaine in his possession when he was stopped for driving the stolen truck.

At about 2:15 a.m. on November 8, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a home south of Hawthorne, where the victim said Vinales-Soto had forced his way into the home by banging on a door with a pistol; he said Vinales-Soto had a romantic relationship with a woman who is employed at his home and who stays there several nights a week.

The victim said Vinales-Soto kept asking for the woman while pointing a pistol at him; he said Vinales-Soto demanded money from him, so he gave Vinales-Soto about $500 from his wallet and then Vinales-Soto grabbed his car keys and fled in his pick-up truck.

At about 3:55 a.m., a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper, assisted by Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies, conducted a traffic stop on the stolen pick-up truck and detained Sims, who was reportedly driving the truck. Sims’ driver’s license was suspended in September, and a search of the truck reportedly produced a baggie at Sims’ feet that contained about 4.9 grams of crack cocaine.

Vinales-Soto was reportedly in the passenger seat of the truck and allegedly fled on foot from the traffic stop before being apprehended. A search incident to arrest reportedly produced about 2.8 grams of cocaine.

Post Miranda, Vinales-Soto reportedly admitted to entering the victim’s home by force, grabbing the victim’s keys, fleeing in the victim’s vehicle, and possessing “crack.”

Sims has been charged with cocaine possession and driving with a suspended driver’s license after a previous conviction for driving without a valid license. He has two felony convictions (non-violent) and is on probation for dealing in stolen property. Judge Denise Ferrero set bail at $7,500.

Vinales-Soto has been charged with armed home invasion robbery, aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, grand theft of a motor vehicle, cocaine possession, and resisting an officer without violence. He has no criminal history except a federal charge from 2007, and Judge Ferrero ordered him held without bail on the home invasion and aggravated assault charges and $70,000 on the other charges.

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.