Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Keeshay Jamaal Sumpter, 29, was arrested yesterday after he allegedly took an item from O’Reilly Auto Parts, hit an employee with a stick, and ran away with the employee’s broken glasses.

At about 3:04 p.m. on September 17, an employee of O’Reilly Auto Parts on East University Avenue was outside assisting a customer when Sumpter walked up. The employee told the responding Gainesville Police Department officer that Sumpter had blood on the right side of his face and was holding a stick. The employee also said Sumpter was the suspect in a recent theft of soft drinks from the store.

Sumpter allegedly entered the store and picked up a box of diesel exhaust fluid valued at about $26, then left the store without paying for it. The employee tried to get Sumpter to stop, and Sumpter allegedly hit him on the hand with the stick; the employee said he and Sumpter got into a shoving match and Sumpter hit him in the head. The employee said that while the two men were shoving each other, his prescription eyeglasses were knocked to the ground, breaking them, and then Sumpter allegedly picked up the glasses and ran away with them.

Officers reportedly found Sumpter in the 100 block of NE 13th Street, where he allegedly ran from the officers but was apprehended after a short foot chase.

Post Miranda, Sumpter reportedly refused to acknowledge his rights and did not answer any questions. The diesel exhaust fluid and the eyeglasses were not found.

Sumpter, whose address is listed as St. Francis House, has been charged with armed robbery, robbery by sudden snatching, and resisting an officer without violence. He has nine felony convictions (none violent) and 10 misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2022.

In March 2025, he was arrested for allegedly punching a gas station employee and was charged with battery, drug possession, and possession of drug paraphernalia; he was released on his own recognizance, and he was arrested again in August after violating his pre-trial release conditions twice. He entered a plea of nolo contendere to possession of drug paraphernalia, and on September 2, he was sentenced to 30 days in jail with credit for 27 days served.

Judge Jonathan Ramsey set bail at $102,000 on the new charges.

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.