Staff report

MICANOPY, Fla. – Donna Marie Drapeau, 49, and Barry Bernard Ellis, 49, were arrested yesterday on warrants and charged with resisting an officer without violence after allegedly barricading themselves inside a box truck.

At about 8:40 a.m. on January 26, deputies went to the 100 block of SW 8th Street in Micanopy to serve a warrant for Ellis; when they arrived, they spoke to the property owner, who reportedly gave them permission to serve the residence and the property. During the search, deputies saw a white box truck and pickup truck in the back yard and were already aware that these vehicles were associated with Drapeau, a known associate of Ellis. Deputies also knew that Drapeau was possibly living in a white box truck and had an active warrant for violating probation.

At about 9:25 a.m., deputies knocked on the rear door of the box truck, and after they heard movement inside the truck, Drapeau reportedly exited through the front driver’s side door but quickly retreated back into the rear compartment of the truck when she saw the deputies.

Deputies issued commands over a PA system, instructing Drapeau to come out of the truck; she allegedly barricaded herself inside the truck for about 10 minutes before she came out of the driver’s side door and was arrested.

Drapeau reportedly told deputies that Ellis was still barricaded in the truck, and about 15 minutes later, deputies cut the lock on the back of the truck; Ellis reportedly came out of the driver’s side door and surrendered.

Drapeau was charged with resisting an officer without violence and booked on a violation of probation (VOP) warrant related to a previous conviction for possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon. The warrant was issued in December 2024 after Drapeau failed to report to her probation officer and changed her residence without informing the probation officer. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $15,000 on the new charge and ordered her held without bond until the VOP case is resolved.

Ellis was charged with resisting an officer without violence and booked on a warrant for failing to appear at a hearing after posting bond following an arrest for driving without a valid license. Judge Rawls set bail at $25,000 on the new charge and $15,000 for failing to appear at a hearing in the other case.

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.