Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sam Eric Haywood, Jr., 36, was arrested yesterday for allegedly stealing $375 in snow crab clusters from Publix; he was in a Drug Court treatment program for three previous theft cases.

The responding Gainesville Police Department officer reported that at about 1:23 p.m. on July 19, Haywood went to the Publix at NW 13th Street and NW 39th Avenue and asked for snow crab clusters valued at $374.44. Haywood reportedly placed the items in a cart and walked around the store; a store manager reportedly followed Haywood and saw him leave the cart in the store and walk out. The manager said that Haywood got into a vehicle and then got back out and walked back into the store.

Haywood reportedly found that the snow crab clusters had been returned to the seafood counter, and he reportedly became “belligerent” with the seafood manager, demanding the snow crab clusters. The manager gave the snow crab clusters back to Haywood, who allegedly went to self-checkout, rang up three items worth $10, and pushed the cart with the crab clusters out of the store.

The manager went to the self-checkout register and printed out the receipt, noting that Haywood had not paid for the snow crab clusters.

The vehicle was reportedly found in the 300 block of SE 26th Terrace, and Haywood was reportedly found hiding in the attic of a home, where he was arrested for petit theft and three active warrants.

Haywood has been charged with petit theft with two or more previous convictions, a felony. He has three felony convictions (non-violent) and seven misdemeanor convictions (two violent). In December 2024, he entered a plea of nolo contendere in three petit theft cases and one grand theft case, charges with a maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison; Judge Denise Ferrero ordered him released to Drug Court for treatment services in a post-plea diversion program, with the condition that if he failed to abide by the conditions of the program, he would be adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 18 months in prison (charges in one case were dropped as part of the plea deal).

On June 25, a court officer recommended that Haywood be removed from the Drug Court program for failing to appear in court three times and for violating the law on May 12, when he allegedly took small appliances worth $598 from Walmart.

Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $25,000 for the Publix case and $50,000 for the Walmart case; Haywood will be held without bond on the other three cases until those are resolved.

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.