Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ali Demetron Manuel, 34, was arrested on May 1 for domestic battery and has now been charged with stealing a tablet from Buffalo Wild Wings and selling it to an Eco-ATM machine.

Manuel was arrested after allegedly hitting his spouse twice while they were traveling together in a car, and charges of grand theft and dealing in stolen property were added the next day.

On April 23, Manuel, who had been working at Buffalo Wild Wings (6401 W. Newberry Road) for about two months, reportedly noticed a black work tablet (valued at about $1,200) in the kitchen of the restaurant. A Gainesville Police Department Detective reported that surveillance video showed Manuel covering the tablet with some clothing items, walking away briefly, then returning to the tablet and picking it up along with the clothing before quickly walking into a walk-in refrigerator. A short time later, Manuel can be seen walking out of the refrigerator and tossing the clothes back onto the rack where he originally saw the tablet, but the tablet could no longer be seen. A short time later, Manuel grabbed the clothes and left the building.

A Buffalo Wild Wings employee reportedly told Manuel that the incident was captured on video and gave him a chance to return the tablet; Manuel reportedly said the tablet was at his residence and he would bring it back in an hour, but he never returned with the tablet.

About four hours after the theft, the tablet was sold at the Eco-ATM machine at the Waldo Road Walmart (1800 NE 12th Avenue). The seller provided Manuel’s Florida ID card, signature, and thumbprint, attesting that he was the true and rightful owner of the tablet; he received $62 cash for the tablet. A photo of Manuel’s face was also reportedly taken during the transaction.

Post Miranda, Manuel reportedly admitted stealing the tablet and selling it at the Eco-ATM because he needed money.

Manuel has been charged with domestic battery, grand theft, and dealing in stolen property. He has 18 felony convictions (non-violent) and five misdemeanor convictions (non-violent). He has been incarcerated twice, once for six terms of 10 years and eight terms of 5 years, all served concurrently, and once for six terms of 12 years and two terms of 5 years, all served concurrently; all of the charges were out of Seminole County, and he was most recently released in October 2024. He has been in Alachua County for about seven months. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $2,000 on the domestic battery charge, and Judge George Wright set bail at $4,000 on the other two charges.

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.