In a dramatic turn of events early today in Gainesville, Florida, Rakeem Lizel Calhoun, aged 37, found himself in police custody following a series of troubling incidents involving his girlfriend. The charges against him include car theft, assault, and the brazen act of using a police scanner in an attempt to dodge law enforcement.

The ordeal began around 8 p.m. on November 27, when an altercation erupted between Calhoun and his girlfriend while they were in her car. According to a report by an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy, Calhoun allegedly started striking the dashboard, prompting the victim to pull over into a parking lot for safety. However, the confrontation escalated when Calhoun reportedly seized her by force, grabbed her wallet and phone, and threatened to wreck her vehicle before speeding off in it.

Adding to the gravity of the situation, surveillance footage later confirmed the physical altercation, capturing the moment Calhoun assaulted the victim. As deputies launched a manhunt, it became apparent that Calhoun was attempting to stay one step ahead by tuning into police scanner frequencies, hoping to evade capture.

The deputy reported that surveillance video showed Calhoun battering the victim.

While deputies were searching for Calhoun, they learned that he was listening to police scanner radio traffic to avoid apprehension.

Post Miranda, Calhoun reportedly admitted to taking the car and saying he would crash it; he also reportedly admitted to snatching the victim’s phone, but he denied “being physical” with the victim.

Calhoun has been charged with unarmed carjacking, depriving a victim of communication with law enforcement, battery with a previous battery conviction, using a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony, and using information from police radio communications to avoid apprehension.

Calhoun has also been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment after the victim reported a separate incident on the same date; the victim said Calhoun implied he had firearms in the car and told her he would kill her if she got out of the car.

Calhoun’s full criminal history is unavailable, but he has extensive convictions in Putnam County, going back to 2006. Three sworn complaints have been filed against him in Alachua County since September 2024, including allegations of robbery, robbery by sudden snatching, and an aggravated battery that left the victim with broken facial bones, but all of the charges were later dropped.

Judge Meshon Rawls 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.