GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Rhema Zion Bell, 26, was arrested yesterday after authorities alleged he had been living for several weeks in a vacant apartment, using its utilities and WiFi service.
On October 9, management at Forest View Apartments, located at 1000 SW 62nd Boulevard, asked Gainesville Police Department officers to search “dozens” of vacant units. Bell had reportedly been found inside several of the apartments, and management wanted to pursue criminal charges if he was discovered on the property again.
According to the police report, officers found Bell crouched inside a closed closet in one of the vacant apartments. He allegedly refused to raise his hands or turn around. When officers attempted to restrain him, Bell allegedly kicked toward them and pulled his arms inward while repeatedly saying, “I’m not resisting.” Several officers reportedly struggled with him for a number of minutes before placing him in handcuffs.
After being read his Miranda rights, Bell reportedly told officers he had been staying in the apartment for about three weeks and using its utilities. He allegedly entered through an unlocked window, leaving whenever he feared he might be caught and returning when he believed no one would see him. Bell also reportedly admitted to using the WiFi assigned to the apartment, charging his phone at the unit’s electrical outlets and taking at least one shower there.
Bell also reportedly acknowledged that he unlawfully possessed a THC vape pen, which he said he obtained from someone at GRACE Marketplace. The officer noted that Bell does not have a medical marijuana card.
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Bell, whose listed address is GRACE Marketplace, faces charges of burglary of an unoccupied structure, possession of a controlled substance, resisting an officer without violence and theft. He has one prior nonviolent misdemeanor conviction. Judge James Colaw set bail at $40,000 on the new charges.
Bell was previously arrested in June 2024 after entering a Dollar General through a door that employees had inadvertently left ajar when they left for the night. He entered a pretrial intervention agreement in August 2024, but the agreement was revoked in January 2026 after he allegedly failed to meet its conditions. Formal charges were filed that month. Bell was arrested again in June 2026 after failing to appear for a hearing in the case, but the charges were dropped in July.