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Reported by Staff
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Demetrius Hank Davis, 28, found himself in handcuffs after a dramatic attempt to evade law enforcement on foot. He is accused of fleeing a traffic stop, discarding a firearm in a wooded area, and ultimately being apprehended by a vigilant homeowner who acted to safeguard his children. Davis also faces charges from a March 2025 incident involving a high-speed chase that culminated in a vehicle crash into a residence.
On March 2, 2026, a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper observed a sedan speeding south on NE Waldo Road, just north of NE 77th Court. The vehicle clocked in at 99 mph in a 65 mph zone, prompting the trooper to initiate a traffic stop.
Instead of complying, the sedan veered right onto NE 77th Court, accelerating dangerously through a residential area. It zoomed past NE 80th Way and NE 96th Avenue before the driver, identified as Davis, leaped from the moving car at a “T” intersection and bolted into the forest, clutching something sizable in his right pocket.
The ensuing chase led Davis into a nearby residence, where he was tackled by the homeowner. The homeowner intervened as Davis allegedly attempted to access the backyard, acting out of concern for his children’s safety. Although Davis initially slipped from the homeowner’s grasp and attempted another escape, both the homeowner and the trooper managed to subdue him with the aid of a taser.
Davis allegedly grabbed the homeowner in the groin and injured the homeowner, who said he wanted to press charges.
After arresting Davis, the trooper returned to where he had run from the car and reportedly found a 9mm pistol in the woods, with no signs of having been outdoors for any length of time.
Davis was charged with fleeing with lights and sirens active, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, tampering with evidence, battery, resisting an officer without violence, and driving with a suspended license.
Davis was also booked on a warrant from an incident on March 2, 2025, in which he allegedly fled from a traffic stop, lost control of his vehicle, and crashed into some bushes before hitting and damaging a house in the 900 block of NW 24th Avenue. Davis allegedly fled from the vehicle without leaving any information. The smell of marijuana provided probable cause for a search of the vehicle, which reportedly produced 12 large rocks of crack cocaine, and a bag containing about 27.8 grams of methamphetamine was reportedly found along his flight path.
For the 2025 case, Davis has been charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, aggravated fleeing with property damage, leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage, and driving with a suspended license.
Davis has 11 felony convictions (non-violent) and four misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he is also wanted in Suwannee County, where he was previously arrested for trafficking in cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and released on his own recognizance.
Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $625,000 on the new charges and $550,000 on the 2025 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.