Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Michael Dwayne White, 55, and Timothy Daniel White, Jr., 26, were arrested yesterday after allegedly stealing over $1,500 in merchandise from Rural King over the course of eight days; White was on pre-trial release following an arrest on similar charges in January.

At about 6:54 p.m. on February 22, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to Rural King (2801 NW 13th Street), where a store manager reported that the two men had walked out of the store with concealed merchandise valued at $379. The pair reportedly drove away in a U-Haul.

An officer conducted a traffic stop on a U-Haul matching the description provided by the witness and reported that the occupants of the truck also matched the descriptions provided by the witness.

Post Miranda, Michael White reportedly denied any involvement but later admitted he had been in the store when he was shown surveillance video.

Post Miranda, Timothy White denied committing the theft.

The witness reportedly identified both men and said the same men had recently committed other thefts from the store, including incidents on February 15, February 21, and a second theft earlier in the day on February 22, with a combined value of about $1,500. The men allegedly stole Milwaukee and DeWalt tools.

Both men have been charged with grand theft and engaging in a scheme to defraud.

Timothy White was arrested on January 2 for stealing a generator from Lowe’s with a different co-defendant, Jacqueline White (a sworn complaint has been filed against her, but she has not been arrested); the detective in that incident reported that the pair had been “stealing constantly” from Lowe’s and Home Depot since November and then pawning the items, with at least eight known incidents. Post Miranda, Jacqueline White reportedly said they had been stealing items because of Timothy White’s drug habit and unemployment. White was released on $50,000 bail.

Judge William Davis set bail for Michael White at $50,000 and for Timothy White at $150,000.

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.