Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jamar Akeem Williams, 35, was arrested early yesterday morning on DUI charges, along with fleeing law enforcement and driving on a permanently revoked license.

At about 4:20 a.m. on March 23, Williams was allegedly driving a car that pulled out of a private roadway onto West University Avenue and coasted for about two blocks, forcing other vehicles to swerve around his vehicle because of its low rate of speed.

Gainesville Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop and approached the car on foot from both sides, but after one of them knocked on the window, the car sped away, nearly hitting other vehicles traveling in the opposite direction. The car reportedly narrowly avoided hitting a patrol vehicle and abruptly turned into a parking lot at 1105 NW 3rd Avenue, where it took a wide turn and nearly clipped a parked car. After the car parked, officers ordered the driver out of the vehicle.

The arresting officer reported that the driver, later identified as Williams, was “very argumentative and disrespectful” and refused to acknowledge that he understood his Miranda rights. The officer reported that Williams said the officer was trying to kill him and that he was being arrested because he was black.

The officer reported that Williams’ speech was “slurred and mumbling,” and he smelled alcohol on his breath. Williams allegedly refused to provide any information about himself and refused to perform field sobriety exercises.

The officer reported that an open bottle of alcohol could be seen on the driver’s side floorboard.

The officer transported Williams to GPD Headquarters for a breath test and asked Williams his name. Williams allegedly said it was “Jayy Williams” and then said his name was “Michael.” He was eventually identified using internal databases.

When the officer requested a breath sample, Williams allegedly “danced around the chair he was provided”; when the officer asked again, “again he danced around the chair.”

Williams was also booked for failure to pay child support.

Williams has been charged with fleeing with lights and sirens active, driving on a permanently revoked license, DUI, DUI with refusal to submit to breath testing, and providing false identification information to law enforcement. He has four felony convictions (none violent) and eight misdemeanor convictions (none violent), including two DUI arrests; he is on probation in Lake County for DUI, refusing to submit to breath testing, and providing false identification information. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $100,000 and ordered him fitted with a transdermal alcohol monitor before being released.

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.