Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities have charged David Lee Townsend Jr., a 23-year-old resident of Gainesville, and Zachery Keith Turner III, aged 20 from Archer, with the theft of a sound system taken from a car’s trunk.
According to a detective with the Gainesville Police Department, surveillance footage from the shopping plaza at 125 NE 23rd Avenue captured two individuals at approximately 11:34 p.m. on February 20. They were seen pulling on door handles as they moved through the parking lot.
During these activities, Townsend reportedly discovered an unlocked Honda Civic. He allegedly opened the vehicle’s door and accessed the trunk. Cameras recorded Townsend leaving the frame only to return shortly with Turner, who appeared to be carrying a tool.
The video shows Turner cutting wires within the trunk before he allegedly removed a subwoofer worth roughly $450. Meanwhile, Townsend reportedly took an amplifier valued at approximately $680. The footage captures both individuals loading these items into their vehicles before driving away separately.
Cameras in the area showed that Townsend was driving a small sedan with multiple stickers on the back and silver trim. Turner was reportedly driving a black Tahoe with black rims and a push bar on the front bumper.
The owner of the business where the victim’s car was parked went to neighboring businesses with photos of the suspects; he learned that Townsend worked at the Wendy’s on North Main Street, and he reportedly found Townsend’s sedan in the parking lot at Wendy’s. He sent the tag number to the detective, who confirmed that the tag was registered to Townsend and verified that Townsend’s driver’s license photo matched the photos of one of the suspects in the February burglary.
The detective reported that he previously investigated a burglary case with Turner as a possible suspect, and an identical Tahoe was photographed by the victim in that case; the tag on that Tahoe is registered to Turner.
The business owner reportedly decided to attend a local car meet where car audio systems are re-sold, and he reportedly saw Turner and his truck at a car meet in the Home Depot parking lot off of Tower Road.
The detective reported that he called both suspects and scheduled meetings with them. He met with Townsend on March 4, and post Miranda, Townsend reportedly admitted that he had found the unlocked car and the audio equipment, but he said Turner removed the subwoofer. Townsend reportedly said it was all Turner’s idea, and he was only looking for a lost wallet in the parking lot. He said he believed Turner still had the subwoofer.
Turner reportedly spoke with the detective by phone and admitted that he had been at the parking lot with Townsend and still had the subwoofer. He agreed to meet with the detective and gave the detective the subwoofer.
Post Miranda, Turner reportedly admitted again that he had been with Townsend and had cut the subwoofer from the car. He reportedly admitted that he had the subwoofer but said he did not have anything else; the detective reported that Turner’s insistence that he did not have anything else led him to believe that Townsend had the amplifier.
The detective returned the subwoofer to the business owner, and the business owner pointed out to the detective that the video showed Townsend carrying the amplifier away.
The detective called Turner again, and Turner reportedly agreed to call Townsend and get the amplifier back. A short time later, both men met with the detective, and Turner reportedly gave him the stolen amplifier, which the detective returned to the business owner. However, the business owner said it would cost almost $1,200 to reinstall the items and replace the wiring that runs from the front of the car to the trunk, so he still wanted to press charges.
Townsend has been charged with burglary of an unoccupied vehicle and grand theft. A warrant for his arrest was issued on May 27, and he was arrested on June 13. He has juvenile convictions between 2017 and 2020, along with three adult felony convictions (three violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2023. Judge David Kreider set bail at $150,000, and he remains in the Alachua County Jail.
Turner has been charged with burglary of an unoccupied vehicle and grand theft. A warrant for his arrest was issued on May 27, and he was arrested on June 3. He has a juvenile conviction from 2022 and has a Notice to Appear in a shoplifting case from May. Judge Joy Danne set bail at $50,000, and he has been released from the Alachua County Jail.
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.