Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jahiyan Elizabeth Armstrong, aged 23, found herself in police custody yesterday following accusations of causing significant damage to a friend’s apartment. This friend had temporarily welcomed Armstrong into her home for a short stay.
A report from the Gainesville Police Department details the victim’s discovery upon returning from a trip: disassembled furniture including a couch and dresser, shattered candle holders and picture frames, and walls defaced with orange spray paint. Additionally, brown smudges stained the dining room wall, and food items and cookies were strewn across the floors. Inside the kitchen, dishes were piled on counters, the fridge door left wide open, and a chaotic mix of kitchenware and refuse covered every surface. Open cleaning supply bottles, which appeared to have been dumped intentionally, were found all over the apartment. The mattress had been stripped of its sheets and was tarnished with food and drink stains.
The victim reported a number of missing items, and upon her return, neighbors informed her that her possessions had been scattered throughout the building, including the hallways, staircases, and even outside on the sidewalk. Confusion about the ownership of these items led to their removal by the building management.
The victim recounted that she and Armstrong had become acquainted because they resided in the same building. Following Armstrong’s eviction, the victim invited her to stay for a few days while she sought new accommodations. However, tension arose when the victim requested Armstrong to maintain cleanliness during her stay, resulting in Armstrong becoming upset.
The victim said she left the apartment for a few days, and when she returned on July 14, she found that the apartment had been vandalized, and Armstrong was the only other person who had been in the apartment. The damage to the victim’s belongings was estimated at $3,000, and the damage to the apartment was estimated at $500.
Armstrong has been charged with felony property damage. She has a juvenile history from 2020, one adult felony conviction (non-violent), and one adult misdemeanor conviction (non-violent); charges of armed home invasion robbery, theft, and dealing in stolen property were dropped in 2022 and 2025. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $30,000.
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.