Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Tyler Anthony Brown, 28, was arrested early this morning on a warrant for stealing a TV from the lounge of an apartment complex, trespassing at the W. University Avenue Wawa after warning, and resisting an officer without violence.

A sworn complaint was filed on May 12, alleging that Brown stole an 85-inch Samsung TV (valued at $3,500) from the lounge at Midtown Apartments (104 NW 17th St.) on May 4. According to the sworn complaint, the suspect was seen on surveillance video, casing the lounge and taking note of where the cameras were. At one point, he could be seen checking out how the TV was mounted.

The video shows the suspect propping open the door to disable the automatic lock, turning out the lights in an attempt to conceal his actions, and hiding in a nearby restroom several times to avoid being seen by other residents or staff. The suspect reportedly left the lounge, changed clothes, and came back.

Video from the apartment complex shows the suspect taking the TV and then using an access code to open the doors to various corridors in the building. The suspect returned to the lounge after stealing the TV and appeared to search for the remote and the cables.

Still images of the suspect were reportedly captured on several access code pads in the building; that evidence, along with surveillance video in multiple locations, led investigators to believe that the suspect was living in a specific apartment at the complex.

An employee of the complex reportedly told the investigating Gainesville Police Department Officer that Brown is not on any lease, but he had recently completed an application. The office had a copy of his driver’s license with a photo.

On May 8, two employees of the complex who were making repairs in an apartment saw Brown in an “illegally subleased bedroom as a subtenant.” The two employees also reportedly saw the stolen TV in the common area of that apartment.

On May 10, an officer made contact with Brown, and post Miranda, Brown reportedly said he knew about the theft of the TV and admitted discussing it with his roommates but denied stealing it.

At 1:47 a.m. today, an officer working a detail at the Wawa at 1614 W. University Avenue recognized Brown as someone who had been trespassed from the store on May 11; the officer also learned that there was a warrant for Brown’s arrest for grand theft.

As Brown was being placed in a patrol vehicle, he allegedly fled on foot and was apprehended after a short foot chase.

Brown has no local criminal history except for two dropped charges of driving without a valid license. The warrant signed by Judge David Kreider set bail on the original charge at $5,000. The bail set on the new charges by Judge Luis Bustamante is currently unavailable; Brown has been released from the jail.

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.