Woman on pre-trial release arrested for breaking apartment window

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Shamera Leonada Lawrence, 47, was arrested early this morning after allegedly breaking a window at an apartment complex after she was kicked out of the apartment.

At about 1:37 a.m. on March 30, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to the Gainesville Housing Authority’s Oak Park apartment complex, where a witness said he heard someone causing a loud commotion, and when he went outside, he saw Lawrence using something yellow to break the window of an apartment.

The officer reported that when he arrived, Lawrence was sleeping outside the apartment next to a broken window, surrounded by shards of glass. Lawrence reportedly said she was just trying to get into the apartment.

Post Miranda, Lawrence reportedly said a resident of the apartment had let her stay there over the last two or three days, but she was kicked out and had her key taken from her. She said she broke the window with a yellow “wet floor” sign because she was “so mad” from trying to get inside for so long. She said she had been smoking a new “rock” form of melatonin to help her sleep.

The officer noted that there was a yellow “wet floor” sign near the broken window, and the approximate value of the broken window was $250.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a glass pipe with burnt residue.

Lawrence has been charged with misdemeanor property damage and possession of drug paraphernalia. She has no criminal convictions, but she was released from the Alachua County Jail on March 18 after being arrested for two trespassing incidents at the Oak Park complex. Judge Adam Lee set bail at $45,000.

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.