Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kim Gregory Melton, 65, was arrested yesterday morning after allegedly burglarizing a house, armed with a knife; he fled when a resident with a gun confronted him.

At about 10:55 a.m. on July 5, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to a home in the 1700 block of NW 6th Avenue, where a resident of the home said he saw a man on his screened back patio, stealing a bottle of Crown Royal alcohol and some pliers. The victim said that when he saw the man, he went to get his gun, and when he came back into the living room, he saw the man inside his house; the victim said the man pulled out a four-inch knife, and the victim raised his gun and called 911. The victim said he was in fear for his life and didn’t know what the man would do. He said he told the man to get out, and the man left.

The victim said he locked himself in the house but told officers which way the man went. Officers arrested Melton in the 800 block of SW 2nd Avenue, and a search incident to arrest reportedly produced several crack pipes. Melton reportedly said he used them to smoke marijuana, but the pipes reportedly had a burnt crystal-like residue.

Melton, who is described as homeless on the arrest report, has been charged with armed burglary, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia, and theft. He has 14 felony convictions (one violent) and 12 misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he has served seven prison sentences and was most recently released in February 2025 after serving a two-year sentence for burglary. Judge David Kreider ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

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.