Wanted man arrested after fleeing from traffic stop, dropping pistol in the woods

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Demetrius Hank Davis, 28, was arrested yesterday after allegedly running from a traffic stop, dropping a pistol in the woods in an effort to hide it, and getting tackled by a homeowner who said he was protecting his children; he was also booked on a warrant for a March 2025 incident in which he allegedly lost control of a vehicle while fleeing a traffic stop and crashed into a home.

On March 2, 2026 (both incidents occurred on March 2), a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper saw a sedan traveling southbound at a high rate of speed on NE Waldo Road, north of NE 77th Court. The trooper noted that his radar showed that the car was going 99 mph in a 65 mph zone, so he attempted to conduct a traffic stop.

The sedan reportedly turned right onto NE 77th Court and then accelerated through a residential neighborhood at high rates of speed, traveling onto NE 80th Way and then NE 96th Avenue. The vehicle slowed as it approached the “T” intersection, the driver’s door opened, and the driver, later identified as Davis, jumped from the moving vehicle and ran into the woods. The trooper pursued Davis on foot and noticed that Davis was holding a large item in his right pocket.

After a lengthy foot chase, Davis allegedly ran into a nearby home, where he was reportedly tackled by the homeowner, who said Davis had tried to get into his back yard and he stopped him to protect his children. The trooper reported that the homeowner lost control of Davis, who allegedly tried to run again, and both men worked to take Davis down until the trooper deployed his taser.

Davis allegedly grabbed the homeowner in the groin and injured the homeowner, who said he wanted to press charges.

After arresting Davis, the trooper returned to where he had run from the car and reportedly found a 9mm pistol in the woods, with no signs of having been outdoors for any length of time.

Davis was charged with fleeing with lights and sirens active, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, tampering with evidence, battery, resisting an officer without violence, and driving with a suspended license.

Davis was also booked on a warrant from an incident on March 2, 2025, in which he allegedly fled from a traffic stop, lost control of his vehicle, and crashed into some bushes before hitting and damaging a house in the 900 block of NW 24th Avenue. Davis allegedly fled from the vehicle without leaving any information. The smell of marijuana provided probable cause for a search of the vehicle, which reportedly produced 12 large rocks of crack cocaine, and a bag containing about 27.8 grams of methamphetamine was reportedly found along his flight path.

For the 2025 case, Davis has been charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, aggravated fleeing with property damage, leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage, and driving with a suspended license.

Davis has 11 felony convictions (non-violent) and four misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he is also wanted in Suwannee County, where he was previously arrested for trafficking in cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and released on his own recognizance.

Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $625,000 on the new charges and $550,000 on the 2025 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.