Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Damian Jacques Brown, 31, was arrested last night and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of drug equipment, and resisting an officer without violence. He was on probation for armed robbery and had been declared a fugitive after not reporting to his probation officer in January and moving to an unknown location in February.
At about 6:39 p.m. on Friday, Gainesville Police Department officers learned that Brown, who was wanted for violation of probation, was in the area of 1634 NE 8th Avenue. Officers responded to the area and saw Brown on a bicycle; Brown allegedly rode away despite numerous commands from officers to stop. Officers chased him on foot until he was apprehended by a K-9.
A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a loaded handgun in a pocket and a separate loaded magazine in another pocket. Brown reportedly stated spontaneously that he had swallowed unspecified narcotics to avoid a drug possession charge. An improvised narcotics pipe was reportedly found on his person.
The arrest report notes that Brown is a person of interest in multiple robbery and shooting cases between late January and March 21. Further charges are reportedly pending.
Brown has a juvenile criminal history, five adult felony convictions (two violent), and four adult misdemeanor convictions (none violent). He has served three state prison sentences. He was arrested in February 2019 for armed home invasion robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and he was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior in June 2019. In January 2021, he entered a plea of nolo contendere to one count of armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; another count of armed robbery and the lewd and lascivious behavior charge were dropped as part of the plea deal. Although the plea document states that the maximum sentence for the charges is a life sentence, Judge David Kreider signed a plea deal sentencing him to five years in state prison, followed by three years of probation, with credit for 714 days served.
Brown was released from prison in September 2023 and began his probation. An affidavit of violation of probation was filed in January when he failed to report to his probation officer, and a warrant for his arrest was issued. The affidavit was amended in February to add a report that Brown had changed addresses without notifying his probation officer “and his current whereabouts is unknown.”
Judge Mark Moseley ordered him held without bond.
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.
