Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – James Dejuan Kuhns, 26, of Jacksonville, was arrested last night after allegedly attempting to pry open a drive-thru window at Popeyes and threatening to kill an employee who wouldn’t open the window.

At about 10:29 p.m. on April 28, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to Popeyes (5695 NW 23rd Street), where an employee said Kuhns walked up to the drive-thru window and started knocking. When she did not open the window, he allegedly tried to pry the window open with his hands.

The employee said Kuhns became increasingly angry as he tried to pry open the window and told her, “I will kill you!” She said she was afraid he would succeed in opening the window and would come inside and hurt her.

Post Miranda, Kuhns reportedly admitted to banging on the window because he wanted to harm himself and wanted the victim to help him.

Kuhns allegedly resisted being placed in a patrol vehicle, but several officers eventually placed him in the vehicle. He reportedly made suicidal statements, and the arresting officer submitted Baker Act paperwork to the jail.

Kuhns has been charged with attempted burglary of an occupied structure, resisting an officer without violence, and making a threat to do violence. He has three felony convictions (one violent) and 14 misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in June 2024. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $25,000.

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.