Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – James Edward Pencheff, 34, was arrested early this morning after allegedly calling 911 to falsely report that someone had been shot at GRACE Marketplace.

At about 12:40 a.m. on March 12, Pencheff allegedly called 911, said someone had been shot at GRACE Marketplace (3055 NE 28th Dr.), and hung up. Eight Gainesville Police Department units, a Gainesville Fire Rescue squad, and an Alachua County Fire Rescue ambulance responded to the homeless shelter with emergency lights and sirens but found upon arrival that there was no emergency. The cost of the resources dispatched in response to the call led to a felony charge for making a false 911 call.

Pencheff reportedly told responding officers that nobody had been shot and that he had intentionally lied on the 911 call so law enforcement would respond faster. The arresting officer reported that Pencheff had also called 911 several times earlier in the evening to report “seemingly bizarre and unfounded incidents.”

Post Miranda, Pencheff reportedly admitted that he had called 911 and that he had a “pot pipe” in his pocket.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a marijuana pipe.

Pencheff, whose address is listed as GRACE Marketplace, has been charged with making a false 911 call and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has an unspecified out-of-state criminal history between 2014 and 2022 but no local criminal history. He is also facing a separate misdemeanor charge of making a false 911 call. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $80,000 and ordered a mental health evaluation.

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.