Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Isaiah Dominick Pace, 32, was arrested on Friday after an officer reportedly saw him driving a car stolen from Old Town; a stolen gun was also reportedly found in the car’s back seat.

At about 4:05 p.m. on December 6, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy received notifications from law enforcement databases about a silver Nissan Versa that had been stolen that day from Old Town, and he saw a vehicle matching that description in the 6700 block of SW 8th Avenue but did not conduct a traffic stop because a school bus had just dropped off a large number of children.

The deputy checked nearby apartment complexes and then saw the car traveling westbound on SW 20th Avenue. The deputy found the vehicle parked at a gas pump at the Circle K at 5237 SW 20th Avenue and watched the unoccupied car; a short time later, Pace came out of the store and started pumping gas.

The deputy detained Pace and told him the car had been reported stolen; Pace reportedly said he didn’t know it was stolen but had the key in his pocket. The deputy also reported that Pace’s driver’s license was suspended.

A search of the car reportedly produced a Taurus 9mm pistol that had been reported stolen in Gainesville in January; the pistol was in the back seat, partially under a backpack but within reach of the driver.

Pace has been charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and driving with a suspended license. He has six felony convictions (none violent) and 14 misdemeanor convictions (two violent), and he has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release in March 2024. He was arrested for loitering/prowling in April and remained in the Alachua County Jail until June 10, when he entered a plea of nolo contendere to the misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to 49 days in jail with credit for 49 days served. Judge Donna Keim set bail at $40,000 on the new 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.