Women arrested for car theft, drug possession

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Amanda Leighanne Taylor, 23, and Amanda Lee Thompson, 41, were arrested yesterday morning after an officer saw them in a car that had been reported stolen.

A Gainesville Police Department officer reported seeing Taylor driving a car that had been reported stolen. Post Miranda, Taylor reportedly said she had been driving the vehicle since early that morning after riding with someone who had borrowed the car. She reportedly said they were supposed to go to the store and then return the car, but they didn’t return the car as promised. Taylor reportedly said she took the car from the person who borrowed it but then could not contact the owner to return the car; she said she planned to leave the car in a parking lot. She reportedly had the key to the car in her bag.

Taylor was last arrested in December of 2021 for car theft; in that case, the victim reportedly identified her as the woman who drove away in his car when he left it running, but Taylor reportedly said someone else stole the car, and she just met the woman to transfer vehicles. That case was referred to Drug Court for pre-trial diversion, but Taylor reportedly did not provide urine samples, attend counseling sessions, or appear at her February hearing, and a warrant for her arrest was issued on February 25.

Taylor has been charged with car theft and is being held on a total of $32,000 bond in the two cases.

Thompson was also reportedly riding in the stolen car, and the officer reported that she provided him with a false identity but eventually gave him her real name. The officer also reportedly found marijuana and white crushed pills that were identified as Molly (MDPV) in a search after arrest.

Thompson has been charged with drug possession and providing false identification to law enforcement. She also had an outstanding warrant for violating probation on a case in which she was convicted of stealing about $15,000 in forged checks from an elderly couple while providing dogsitting services. She is being held on $4,000 bond in this case and without bond for violating the conditions of her probation.

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.