Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Joseph Taylor, Jr., 45, has been charged with aggravated stalking after allegedly breaking a window at his ex-girlfriend’s home, repeatedly contacting her after she asked him to stop, and threatening to kill her.

The victim told a Gainesville Police Department officer that she and Taylor broke up several months ago, and since then, Taylor has made “numerous” attempts to contact her by phone and in person. On May 20, he allegedly knocked on the door of the place she was staying and told her he would break the window if she did not open the door; a few minutes later, Taylor allegedly broke the window with an unknown object. The victim said she ran out of the apartment and Taylor briefly chased her before fleeing on a bicycle.

On June 4, Taylor allegedly called the victim several times, and she told him again that she did not want him to contact her. He allegedly called her several more times and threatened to come to her apartment to beat and/or kill her. The responding officer reported that the victim was fearful and visibly distressed by the threat.

The officer reportedly monitored a call between the victim and Taylor, and when the victim said Taylor had recently threatened to kill her, Taylor reportedly said, “I’m sorry.”

As a registered Career Offender, Taylor is required to report his address to law enforcement. When the officer went to his registered address, a family member reportedly said Taylor had not lived there for several months.

Taylor has been charged with aggravated stalking and violating Career Offender registration requirements. He has 16 felony convictions (eight violent) and 12 misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served four state prison sentences, with his most recent release in August 2021. He is facing a property damage charge for allegedly breaking the window. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

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.