By Staff Reporter

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities arrested 73-year-old Steven Michael Carter on December 27 following an incident involving evasion from law enforcement and an outstanding warrant related to stolen property.

The chain of events unfolded around 7:30 p.m., when a Gainesville Police Department officer spotted Carter standing on a narrow median along East University Avenue. Local regulations strictly prohibit loitering on medians less than six feet wide, making this Carter’s sixth infraction under the ordinance, according to a GPD spokesperson.

As the officer signaled for Carter to stop by activating his patrol car’s lights, Carter allegedly attempted to flee. After a brief chase, the officer successfully detained him, though Carter reportedly resisted being handcuffed.

Upon conducting a search following the arrest, officers discovered a glass pipe typically associated with drug use. Consequently, Carter now faces charges of resisting arrest without violence and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Post Miranda, Carter reportedly said the pipe was his and that he uses it to smoke “whatever narcotics were made available to him by his friends.” He reportedly said the pipe would probably test positive for crack cocaine. He said he didn’t know he had a warrant, and he could not explain why he ran from the officer.

Carter was also booked for allegedly selling stolen diving watches to a pawn shop on July 1; the watches had been stolen from a vehicle about 10 hours before they were sold to the pawn shop. According to the sworn complaint, surveillance video shows that the items were probably stolen by an unidentified man who accompanied Carter to the pawn shop. Carter has been charged with dealing in stolen property and falsely claiming ownership of pawned items.

Carter, who is described as homeless in court documents, has no criminal convictions. Judge Jonathan Ramsey set bail at $105,000.

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.