Two arrested during investigation of person brandishing a firearm in 900 block of W. University Avenue

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Travion Lamar Davis, 21, and Gregory Ahmad Pettway, 24, were arrested early this morning after allegedly running from officers who were investigating a report that someone was brandishing a firearm in the 900 block of W. University Avenue.

At about 2:38 a.m. on April 21, Gainesville Police Department officers were patrolling the 900 block of W. University Avenue, due to large crowds, when they were notified by an anonymous citizen that a black male with glasses, wearing all black, was brandishing a firearm. The citizen said the black male was in a green Mustang with a black top, next to a white Dodge Challenger.

At the time, a large number of pedestrians were in the area, with groups of people obstructing the roadways.

Officers spoke with a woman sitting in a green Camaro with a black top that was next to a white vehicle; the woman reportedly said the driver was coming back to the car.

An officer reported that he saw Davis, wearing glasses and black clothing, approach the vehicles, but when he tried to “Terry frisk” him, Davis allegedly did not comply. When the officer said there was a report that Davis had been brandishing a firearm, Davis allegedly fled on foot.

When Davis tripped and fell, an officer tried to handcuff him, but Davis allegedly resisted being handcuffed.

At about 2:45 a.m., an officer ordered Pettway to stop, but he allegedly ran to a car, got into the driver’s seat, started the car, and began driving away. Officers removed him from the vehicle, but Pettway allegedly resisted attempts to place him in handcuffs.

The arresting officer reported that Pettway is not the registered owner of the vehicle.

Post Miranda, Pettway reportedly said he did not know who the car belonged to, but someone “just told him to drive it away.” He reportedly denied knowing anyone else in the area but also said the person brandishing the firearm was his “brother,” although not a family member; he reportedly refused to provide the man’s name. He said he refused to follow commands from officers because he “did not do anything wrong.”

Davis has been charged with resisting an officer without violence. He has a juvenile conviction from 2017 but no adult convictions. He was arrested for domestic battery in 2023, but the charges were later dropped. He is facing a felony sworn complaint from an incident on April 13 in which he allegedly obstructed justice by taking a phone from a woman who was a victim of domestic battery by another suspect. Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $10,000.

Pettway has been charged with resisting an officer without violence. He has no criminal convictions but is on pre-trial release for domestic battery charges from February 2025. Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $10,000.

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.