Gainesville Police Arrest Man Following Chase
A Gainesville man who has served at least seven prison terms was arrested Friday on several felonies after being accused of hitting a police dog in the head with a chair and then throwing punches at the animal.
Gainesville Police Department K9 Justice was not injured in the incident, officials said.
Police spelled out their case against Lester C., 45, of Gainesville, in a 10-page arrest report. The report shows that Lester was booked into the Alachua County jail on the following charges: aggravated fleeing and eluding, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, child abuse, resisting arrest with violence, striking a police animal, burglary of an occupied burglary, grand theft auto and two counts of DUI and then leaving the scene of a crash with property damage.
Lester also was wanted by the Florida Parole Commission for violating his parole in a grand theft auto case.
Lester’s latest problems began late Friday on Waldo Road, where witnesses said he punched a woman to end a dispute with her. The witnesses also said Lester fled the scene in a red pickup shortly before police arrived.
K-9 Officer Charles Owens spotted the truck headed north on Waldo Road and asked dispatchers to check the tag. A state crime computer report showed the truck was stolen out of Jacksonville.
Owens said he tried to pull Lester over but that Lester continued north until he made a west turn on Northeast 31st Avenue. During the chase, Owens spotted two people inside the truck with Lester– a woman and a child.
Supervisors approved pursuing the vehicle out of concern that the woman and child might have been kidnapped, carjacked or in the truck against their will under some other circumstances.
During the chase, police said Lester led them through the Highland Court Manor and Carrol Estates neighborhoods.
Owens said the truck abruptly stopped at one point, then intentionally backed into Owens’ police vehicle.
The vehicle chase continued into Carroll Estates and ended when the truck crashed into a vacant home at 2109 NE 12th Terrace.
Police said Lester ran off and was tracked by Justice and Owens to the enclosed porch of a nearby home. Lester was found hiding under a barbecue grill.
That is when Lester threw a porch chair at Justice, Owens said, and hit the dog in the head. Justice continued to follow commands from Owens to apprehend Lester, even while Lester was throwing punches at Justice’s head.
Lester eventually surrendered, police said. He was taken to Shands at the University of Florida for treatment of dog bites and then booked into the Alachua County jail
The woman and child in the truck were not hurt but were shook up by the incident, investigators said.
Florida Department of Corrections Records show Lester was released from state prison on April 11 at the end of his seventh prison term since 1983. According to the records, Lester’s criminal history includes convictions for robbery with a deadly weapon, drug sales, burglary, grand theft auto, trafficking in stolen property and driving without a license.
