Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities apprehended 23-year-old Troy Johntavis Johnson Jr. yesterday, suspecting him of vandalizing a car with a key in a Shands parking structure. Additionally, he faces a felony warrant from an incident that occurred in June.

Around 3:36 p.m. on November 23, an officer from the University of Florida Police Department was dispatched to Garage 10 on the UF campus, located at 1269 Newell Drive. A complainant reported that a black male wearing a white turban had both threatened him and damaged his vehicle. The suspect’s car remained in the garage at the time.

The victim recounted parking his car at approximately 1:30 p.m., only to encounter the suspect, who was irate over a perceived parking dispute. The suspect allegedly warned, “I’ll whip you, and I’ll key you.” The victim admitted he dismissed the threat and proceeded into the hospital. Upon returning a few hours later, he discovered his car had been marred with key scratches.

The officer documented several fresh scratches on the vehicle, with the victim noting that his car’s paint was a custom job, potentially costing between $500 and $1,000 to repair the damage.

The victim pointed out the suspect’s car, and the officer identified Johnson as the owner of the vehicle from the tag number. He also noted that Johnson had an active warrant for aggravated assault, robbery by sudden snatching, and property damage.

The officer found that Johnson worked at Shands, and Johnson was located inside the hospital and arrested at 4:20 p.m. The victim identified Johnson as the man who had threatened him, and the officer confirmed that keys in Johnson’s pocket belonged to the suspect’s vehicle.

Post Miranda, Johnson reportedly did not want to say anything.

Johnson has been charged with misdemeanor property damage for the parking garage incident.

On June 21, Johnson was reportedly arguing with a woman when he snatched her phone and threw it out of a car window; the victim said she stopped the car to look for it but did not find it. A short time later, Johnson allegedly kicked the woman’s car, causing about $200 in damage. When the woman went to Johnson’s mother’s home to get her other phone, Johnson allegedly came outside with a handgun, but his mother took the gun from him; a friend of the woman reportedly captured a video showing the handgun. Johnson has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, robbery by sudden snatching, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and property damage in that case.

Johnson has two felony convictions (non-violent) and a misdemeanor conviction (non-violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in August 2024. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $202,000 on the June charges and added $5,000 for yesterday’s incident.

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.