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GAINESVILLE – A High Springs man has been sentenced to three years in state prison for shooting a man who siphoned gas from his car. The victim reportedly said he had run out of gas and could not find any open stations because of the hurricane, so he decided to siphon gas from a vehicle in the parking lot of the Days Inn, 1901 S.W. 13^th Street, Gainesville.

Jonathan Velez-Rodriguez, 37, received the sentence last week after entering a plea of nolo contendere to aggravated battery in connection with the Sept. 27, 2024, shooting near the Days Inn. Judge Robert Groeb also ordered two years of probation following his release.

Gainesville Police responded just after 7 a.m. that morning and found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the thigh on the 1400 block of Southwest 18^th Place. Three spent shell casings were discovered in the roadway nearby.

The victim told police he had run out of gas and, unable to find open stations due to the hurricane, attempted to siphon fuel from a parked vehicle at the motel. When the owner confronted him, the victim said he walked away. He reported that Velez-Rodriguez then followed him in his car as he ran across Southwest 13^th Street and into a nearby neighborhood, where shots were fired from about 20 to 30 feet away.

Officers located Velez-Rodriguez near his vehicle shortly afterward. According to the arrest report, he immediately acknowledged his role, telling the officer, “It’s me… I’m who you’re looking for… I messed up.” He said he had seen the man siphoning gas, returned to his motel room for his keys, and then drove around searching for him.

Post-Miranda, Velez-Rodriguez told investigators he retrieved a firearm from his glove box and fired out the window as he drove onto Southwest 18^th Place. He said he believed he fired twice and that he intended only to scare the victim, not hit him.

Police recovered the handgun from Velez-Rodriguez’s glove box, and investigators noted that the ammunition matched the casings found at the scene.

Velez-Rodriguez was released on $50,000 bail after spending about 11 days in jail. He entered his plea on Nov. 20 and was sentenced the same day.

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GAINESVILLE – A 37-year-old Newberry man was arrested Saturday evening on a child abuse charge following an incident reported by multiple witnesses at a Gainesville park.

According to police, officers with the Gainesville Police Department were called at approximately 6:04 p.m. to Albert 'Ray' Massey Westside Park, located at 1001 N.W. 34^th Street, after witnesses reported seeing a man repeatedly kicking a child who was on the ground.

An officer arriving at the park reported that the man, identified as Prows, prevented the child from standing by “maliciously and aggressively” kicking him to keep him on the ground. Four witnesses told police that the behavior was not consistent with reasonable parental discipline. They reported that the man was standing over the child and yelling at him to stop calling him “bro.”

The officer further reported that after the kicking stopped, Prows directed the child to sit on a piece of playground equipment. Witnesses said they heard him tell the child that people were going to call the police and the Department of Children and Families because of the child.

Prows was taken into custody at approximately 8:06 p.m. and charged with child abuse.

After being advised of his Miranda rights, Prows reportedly denied hitting or kicking the child and told officers that he had not physically disciplined the victim in several years.

Court records indicate that Prows has two local felony convictions and one local misdemeanor conviction and previously served a state prison sentence. He was released from prison in 2009.

At his initial appearance, bail was set at $10,000 by Judge Donna Keim.

The incident remains under investigation.

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ALACHUA – A 43-year-old homeless woman was arrested Monday evening after police say she vandalized a pickup truck following an argument with its owner in the parking lot of an Alachua restaurant.

According to an arrest report from the Alachua Police Department, officers were called at about 7:05 p.m. on Dec. 8, 2025, to Sonny’s BBQ, located at 15935 N.W. U.S. Highway 441, in response to a report of an armed disturbance. The caller reported that a woman armed with a knife was threatening to slash the tires of his vehicle.

An officer arrived at the scene and made contact with the victim, who pointed out the suspect, later identified as Janelle-Joy Alexandra Summers, as she was driving out of the parking lot. The officer conducted a traffic stop and detained Summers, removing her from the vehicle and placing her in handcuffs.

Police reported recovering a knife clipped to the right side of Summers’ pants.

The victim told officers he had dated Summers intermittently for several years and had agreed to meet her at the restaurant. He said that when she arrived, she appeared to be in a manic state and became angry, yelling inside the restaurant. Employees asked her to leave the dining area, according to the report.

After leaving the restaurant, Summers allegedly sent the victim a series of text messages, including one threatening to slash the tires on his pickup truck.

The officer reported observing deep scratches along one side of the victim’s gray Chevrolet Silverado, as well as multiple messages written on the vehicle in nail polish. One of the messages reportedly included the word “die.”

After being advised of her Miranda rights, Summers reportedly admitted she was upset with the victim and acknowledged that she used a pocket knife to scratch the vehicle and wrote messages on it using nail polish.

Summers is described in the arrest report as homeless. She was charged with property damage of $1,000 or more, a felony offense. While she has an unspecified criminal history in other counties between 2021 and 2025, court records indicate she has no prior criminal convictions.

Judge Susan Miller-Jones set Summers’ bail at $15,000 but ordered that she be released if accepted into Mental Health Court. The judge also ordered an evaluation to determine whether Summers requires emergency mental health treatment.

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~ The following is a press release provided by the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office. It has been published here as received, without additional reporting or editing by Alachua County Today staff. ~ 

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. (Jan. 15, 2026) Next week the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office will be participating in several voter outreach events across Alachua County.

On Monday, Jan. 19, the office will be staffing a table at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday Celebration taking place at the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center (1028 Northeast 14th Street, Gainesville). The event will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

On Wednesday, Jan. 21, the office will be assisting newly naturalized citizens with registering to vote at the Naturalization Ceremony taking place today in Gainesville.

The ceremony will be held at the United States District Court Northern Florida District Courthouse in Gainesville from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The courthouse is located at 401 SE 1st Avenue in Gainesville. In addition to registering to vote, newly naturalized citizens will be given an opportunity to learn about the voting and elections process in Florida and Alachua County.

Finally, on Sunday, Jan. 25, the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office will be presenting information about voting, upcoming elections, and serving as an election worker at services being held at the Unitarian Universality Fellowship Church (4225 NW 34th St, in Gainesville). Attendees will also be able register to vote or update their voter registration and request a vote-by-mail ballot after services.

For more information about the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office's outreach activities, please visit VoteAlachua.gov or call 352-374-5252 during our normal business hours of Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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AINESVILLE – A 39-year-old High Springs woman was arrested Dec. 15, 2025, after customers and staff at Bass Pro Shops asked a deputy to check on her, reporting she had a small child with her, appeared to be having trouble walking and seemed to be talking to herself, according to an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office report.

An Alachua County sheriff’s deputy responded at about 7:51 p.m. Monday to the store at 2650 Bass Pro Shops Boulevard, Gainesville, after several people expressed concern about the woman’s condition and the presence of a young child.

The deputy made contact with Jennifer Jean Reeder, who reportedly said she had driven to the store with her child to see Santa and had taken two Klonopin pills. While speaking with Reeder, the deputy reported seeing a plastic bag in the center console area of her vehicle of the type commonly used to package illegal narcotics.

Reeder told the deputy she was trying to return home with her daughter but said her vehicle would not start, according to the report.

After Reeder gave consent for a search of the vehicle, deputies reportedly found 0.2 grams of methamphetamine and two unlabeled prescription bottles containing Klonopin pills. The plastic bag previously seen in the center console was not located during the search. The deputy noted that the drugs and prescription bottles were easily accessible to the child.

Following Miranda warnings, Reeder reportedly identified the methamphetamine as “ice” and handed the deputy two glass pipes and a plastic bag containing 1.1 grams of a substance that tested positive for cocaine, which she identified as “crack.”

Reeder was charged with child neglect without great bodily harm, four counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Her full criminal history was not immediately available, but records indicate she has at least 24 felony convictions related to theft and fraud from more than a decade ago and a misdemeanor conviction for possession of drug paraphernalia in March 2025.

Jonathan Ramsey set bail at $42,000 on the new charges.

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Doug Dimmadome, one of the dogs featured during the Humane Society of North Central Florida’s four-day adoption event Jan. 14–17, waits to meet a potential new family. The event aims to find homes for dozens of rescued dogs and cats while creating space for future animals in need. / Photo special to Alachua County Today

GAINESVILLE – The Humane Society of North Central Florida is launching the new year with an expanded four-day adoption event aimed at creating space for animals rescued from euthanasia lists across the region.

The adoption event will run Wednesday through Saturday, Jan. 14–17, following the organization’s acceptance of more than 80 cats and dogs from euthanasia lists in Alachua County and surrounding areas at the end of 2025. As shelters throughout the region faced capacity challenges, HSNCFL stepped in to provide care for animals with limited alternatives.

While many of the animals are still undergoing medical treatment, approximately 80 cats and dogs are expected to be available for adoption during the event.

“Our goal is to continue being a resource for animals who need a second chance,” said Franziska Raeber, director of development. “In order to do that responsibly, we need to find loving homes or fosters for the animals currently in our care.”

HSNCFL officials said dogs continue to need additional support, as they typically take longer to be adopted than cats. While cats at the shelter are being placed quickly, slower dog adoptions have resulted in fuller kennels and reduced flexibility for future intakes.

To address that challenge, HSNCFL expanded the adoption event to four days, giving potential adopters more opportunities to visit, meet animals and make informed decisions. Dog kennels will be open daily from 1 to 3 p.m., a schedule designed to balance visitor access with the animals’ daily routines, including walks, enrichment and quiet time.

The timing of the event also reflects renewed interest following the holidays. During HSNCFL’s “Home for the Holidays” season, staff said many visitors expressed interest in adopting but postponed decisions due to travel and scheduling conflicts. With the holidays over, the organization is encouraging residents to revisit adoption as they begin the new year.

To help reduce barriers, HSNCFL is offering reduced adoption fees throughout the event. Adoption fees for adult cats five months and older will be $50, while adult dogs five months and older will be $100.

Among the dogs awaiting adoption is Doug Dimmadome, who arrived at HSNCFL from Alachua County Animal Resources. Staff describe him as a friendly, affectionate dog whose personality has made him a favorite among caregivers, and an example of the companions currently seeking permanent homes.

Kennel hours for both dogs and cats will be 1 to 3 p.m. daily. Cat and kitten rooms will be open from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Adoptable animals may also be viewed online through HSNCFL’s website.

Dogs: https://www.humanesocietyncfl.org/adopt/dogs-puppies/

Cats: https://www.humanesocietyncfl.org/adopt/cats-kittens/

Animals listed as “foster” are currently living in foster homes. Interested adopters are encouraged to complete an application and contact HSNCFL to arrange a meet-and-greet.

Shelter officials said each adoption not only provides an animal with a home but also opens space for future rescues. The four-day event reflects HSNCFL’s continued focus on sustainable rescue efforts and partnerships within the community.

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