Woman on probation arrested for threatening store clerk with bolt cutters

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jennifer Marie Guthrie, 41, was arrested early this morning and charged with attempted armed robbery and drug possession after allegedly threatening a convenience store clerk with bolt cutters.

A Gainesville Police Department officer responded at about 1:19 a.m. to a call from 1720 S. Main Street about a woman who had entered a closed convenience store and demanded money. A store employee told the officer the woman, later identified as Guthrie, was asked to leave, but when the employee turned her back, Guthrie went into the beer cooler. The employee said that when she confronted Guthrie, Guthrie demanded money, and when she said no, Guthrie brandished bolt cutters and again demanded that the employee give her money. The victim said she was afraid of Guthrie and locked her in the beer cooler until the officer arrived.

Post Miranda, Guthrie declined to answer any questions.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a black ski mask and 11.2 grams of MDPV.

Guthrie has been charged with attempted armed robbery and possession of a controlled substance. She has six felony convictions (none violent) and 13 misdemeanor convictions (none violent). She has served two state prison sentences and was most recently released in 2012. She is on probation for stealing over $100 in items from Walmart; since she has two prior convictions for retail theft, it was charged as a felony, and she served two months in jail before beginning two years of drug offender probation.

Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $110,000.

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.