Reported by Staff

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 22-year-old man, Matthew Oneil Spence, found himself under arrest in the early hours of this morning following a report that linked him to firearm possession. The Gainesville Police Department acted on information provided by a reliable source.

Officers confronted Spence around 1:11 a.m. on November 19 while he was in a bustling parking lot located in the 200 block of NW 1st Avenue. The credible tip suggested that Spence, who was reportedly involved in a heated argument, was carrying a firearm. As the officers approached his vehicle, Spence attempted to walk away but was quickly detained for a search. During the pat-down, Spence allegedly admitted to having a gun and disclosed that he was a convicted felon.

Authorities discovered that the firearm in question was a striker-fired Glock 19-style pistol, lacking a serial number, which is often referred to as a “Ghost Gun.”

Details of Spence’s complete criminal background are not fully disclosed at this moment. However, the arrest report reveals that he has a history of six felony convictions. He had been released from prison in January 2025 after serving a two-year sentence related to multiple charges of burglary and grand theft. In light of the recent arrest, Judge Jonathan Ramsey has set Spence’s bail at $15,000.

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.