Florida Man Sparks Chaos in Walmart Chase Before Evading Police

The events in question took place in the early hours of Wednesday at a Walmart situated on U.S. Highway 90 in Lake City, a town positioned approximately 60 miles west of Jacksonville. On the morning of October 8th, at about 2:45 a.m., police received a call regarding a “suspicious person acting erratically in the parking lot,” as detailed in a press release from the Lake City Police Department.

The incident has drawn attention in the area, highlighting a unique and disruptive episode in the usually quiet town. The arrest of Johnson underscores the challenges law enforcement faces when addressing unusual and unpredictable situations. With the case now making its way through the legal system, it serves as a stark reminder of the diverse nature of public disturbances that can arise at any time.

The underlying incident occurred during the early morning hours on Wednesday at a Walmart along U.S. Highway 90 in Lake City – a small town located roughly 60 miles due west of Jacksonville.

On Oct. 8, at around 2:45 a.m., officers were called about a “suspicious person acting erratically in the parking lot,” according to a press release issued by the Lake City Police Department.

Responding officers learned that a man, described only as “completely nude,” had been “chasing employees in the parking lot” before fleeing toward a wooded area north of the store, according to police.

“Officers canvassed the area and located a male on his hands and knees in the wooded area,” the press release reads. “The subject appeared agitated and paranoid. Officers attempted to communicate with him; however, he remained largely nonverbal and incoherent.”

After trying to make contact with the defendant and out of concern for his safety, officers contacted paramedics and put Johnson “in hand restraints for his own protection,” police say.

Then, the defendant was then taken out of the woods to a patrol and transported by emergency medical services personnel to Lake City Medical Center “for evaluation,” according to the press release.

At the hospital, Johnson was initially “unable to provide identifying information” but later pronounced his name as “Raheem,” police claim.

“After several unsuccessful attempts to verify his identity, the subject was medically cleared for transport to the Columbia County Detention Facility,” the press release continues. “Once at the detention facility, a Rapid ID fingerprint scan revealed the male’s true identity.”

Law&Crime reached out to the Lake City Police Department for additional details about this story but no response was immediately forthcoming at the time of publication.

The defendant was described as “homeless” by police and has applied for indigent status, court records show. He is currently slated to be arraigned on the morning of Oct. 14.