Staff Report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In an incident that unfolded on May 14, Kelvin Sanchez Rosario, 48, found himself in handcuffs after an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy witnessed him discarding a cigarette butt towards dry brush and refusing to retrieve it when requested.
Around 4:24 p.m., the deputy was exiting the southbound rest area at mile marker 380 on Interstate 75 when he noticed Rosario standing beside the open trunk of his vehicle. According to the deputy, Rosario flicked a cigarette butt from his mouth, targeting a spot where a tree, dry vegetation, and debris were present. With Alachua County currently under a burn ban, the deputy approached Rosario and asked him to pick up the cigarette to prevent any potential fire hazards.
The deputy stated that Rosario initially made eye contact but chose not to respond. When the request was repeated, Rosario allegedly replied, “I’ll get it in a minute.” The deputy insisted he retrieve it immediately to eliminate any fire risk, prompting Rosario to become agitated. He reportedly began yelling and questioned whether the deputy intended to issue a ticket.
After the deputy confirmed his intention to write a citation, Rosario allegedly shouted, “Write the [expletive] ticket!” leading to his arrest on the spot.
The deputy got out of his vehicle and asked Rosario for identification; Rosario allegedly ignored the request but went over to pick up the cigarette butt, still screaming. When the deputy asked again for his identification, Rosario allegedly walked toward the driver’s side door of his vehicle; because of his hostile behavior and the possibility that he had a weapon in his vehicle, the deputy told him to stop and walk to the front of his patrol vehicle.
Rosario reportedly screamed that he was getting his identification, but the deputy told him again to walk to the front of the patrol vehicle and place his hands on the push bumper; Rosario reportedly walked toward the vehicle, screaming at the deputy in Spanish, and leaned his elbow on the push bumper. After another instruction to place his hands on the push bumper, the deputy drew his taser and said he would deploy it if Rosario did not comply.
Rosario allegedly turned toward the deputy, removed his hands from the patrol vehicle, and started screaming at the deputy again. The deputy deployed the taser, but it was ineffective; a second deployment was also ineffective. The deputy pulled his handgun, pointed it at Rosario, and told him to get on the ground; Rosario eventually complied but ignored commands to cross his feet, put his arms out to his sides, and face away from the deputy. Rosario was eventually handcuffed after backup arrived.
Rosario has been charged with improper disposal of a lighted cigarette and resisting an officer without violence, both misdemeanors. According to his arrest report, he was born in Puerto Rico and is homeless; he told Court Services that he has been in the area for five years. He has one local misdemeanor conviction (violent), along with arrests in Pennsylvania and Connecticut and a history of violating probation. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $50,000.
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.