Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jerrica Michelle Conley, 34, was arrested yesterday and charged with loitering/prowling after a resident of the Kirkwood neighborhood reported that she was entering yards in the neighborhood.

A Gainesville Police Department officer responded to the 1100 block of SW 19th Place after a witness called to report that a white woman was walking through the neighborhood with a black man; the witness provided descriptions of both suspects, along with descriptions of their clothing. The witness reported that the woman was going into people’s yards; he said he lived in the neighborhood and did not recognize the pair.

The officer made contact with Conley, who matched the description of the woman. He reported that she was standing in front of a home, opening a stack of mail. During a consensual conversation, she reportedly said she was from Massachusetts and was staying in a nearby hotel and just walking through the neighborhood. She reportedly denied that she had been walking with anyone else.

When the officer asked whether he could see the mail in her hands, she reportedly folded it and put it in her purse. The officer reported that she had a two-way radio and that she began rapidly pushing the “Push to talk” button “as to alert whoever had the other radio.” She did not provide any identification cards to the officer but reportedly gave her name and date of birth; the officer was advised by a dispatcher that Conley has a Florida ID card with the address listed as “General Delivery” in Ft. Lauderdale.

The witness reportedly showed the officer video of the pair he had seen in the neighborhood, so the officer became suspicious about the woman’s refusal to admit that she was with another person, her refusal to show him the mail, and her repeated activation of the button on the two-way radio.

Post Miranda, Conley reportedly said she did not understand her rights and was uncooperative.

When the officer explained that she would be detained until he completed his investigation, including determining who owned the mail, she reportedly threw the mail on the ground. The mail reportedly belonged to two people at the house where she was standing when the officer made contact with her. The officer contacted one of the owners of the mail, who reportedly said they did not know Conley.

Conley has no criminal history. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $1,000.

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.