Raw Youngin Vehicular Homicide Update, Concealed Alliance Meetings, Grace MarketPlace Sweep; GPD Gives Quarterly Update
Last week the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) gave their quarterly update to the Gainesville City Commission for July 1–September 30.
GPD Chief Nelson Moya announced the crime statistics for this quarter. The statistics count the number of incidents, not the number of victims.
For violent crimes, there have been zero homicides, 40 cases of rape, 47 robberies, and 154 cases of aggravated assault.
For property crimes, there have been 114 burglaries, 109 vehicle thefts, and 809 cases of larceny.
Regarding gun-related statistics, there have been 68 firearms seized by GPD, 24 incidents of shots fired, and eight people shot, all surviving.
Moya said the number of suicides for this quarter is unconfirmed.
Young addressed the recent homeless camp sweep at Grace MarketPlace. “I’m gonna share about our homeless outreach. A lot of our officer’s time is spent dealing with a lot of things that are quality of life issues for individuals that are without homes, as well as individuals that do have homes that are impacted by those without….We are continuously working with the area that was formally Dignity Village and within Grace MarketPlace. To the far left is a picture of Mr. Mitch from Public Works as well as Lieutenant Lisa Scott…. Cleaning up that area, maintaining that area, and coming up with a plan for maintaining that area have required multiple city departments. Public works and GPD have been at the core of that…. This started about a month and a half ago, and in preparation for the changes that were coming up on October 1, that area needed to be cleaned out…. We work with Grace MarketPlace and got a list of their most violent offenders that they identified for us. They said that they were prolific offenders; they were the reason why a lot of people were not utilizing services there because they were afraid. We have been doing regular checks of that vacant area…. Within Grace MarketPlace, we made several arrests of those individuals and other individuals who've been trespassed and/or committed other crimes. Leading up to that, they tagged tents and property that were out on that city property…. They were given a little over a month…. We work with the paramedicine program to go out and work with those willing to accept help; some did, a lot did not. It came down to public works, GFR, GPD, and code enforcement going out together on multiple days to remove those individuals from that property…. They have cleared it…. We are doing increased patrols in the City Hall plaza and working with individuals there to keep moving them along and working with other city entities to come up with a plan that is comprehensive [and] compassionate but also addresses the new [laws] that went into effect on October 1.”
Young went on to talk about a case where GPD issued a risk protection order on an A. Quinn Jones School student who had a stash of guns in a hidden closet compartment.
Commissioner Willits said, “That kind of follow-up, how can we utilize our other gun violence prevention efforts through [Gainesville Fire Rescue and Gun Violence Intervention Program Manager Brittney] Coleman and any other community partners who could be stepping in with new grant money? Perhaps if they’ve got a bunch of guns hidden in the house, then it’s less so those softer touches…. Is there any way to corporate, and I don’t wanna say ‘hand it off’ to somebody else but bring them in… Is there even communication to those others so they’re on people’s radar for homes and families who need those other forms of touches that don’t come behind a badge and a gun?”
“I wanna make sure; I don’t know if I understand,” said Young.
Willits said it might not be a question for GPD and that City Manager Cynthia Curry might be able to speak to his question.
Moya took the stand and said, “We can speak to that. It goes along the lines of what the captain was speaking about in terms of threat assessment. In cases like this these are acute…. Ideally, what we, and I say ‘we’ because it’s multi-discipline. It’s a team of folks made up of not only law enforcement but also mental health clinicians and all the service providers who can do those wrap-around services…. What we're advocating for here is a system that does case management on the early warning signs of someone who has a propensity for violent acts…. It may not be the police that’s the intended role for intervention. It may very well be, and oftentimes is mental health clinicians; the school system; clergy; community leaders—all that is in play."
Commissioner Desmond Duncan-Walker asked Moya a question that would reveal the City of Gainesville has been holding public meetings without giving proper notification to the public.
Duncan Walker said "Originally, with the idea for the task force this is what I had envisioned. I know were not doing the task force now. We're doing an Alliance so I'm curious and hoping we'll find effective ways to work collaboratively because to your point, everyone is operating in their lane. I'm pleased to hear about the downward trend; my heart has done summersaults.... But what you're sharing bears the need for us to really chart a pathway forward for how we continue this work collaboratively.... Can we hear from the City Manager or anyone who can briefly tell us if the Alliance's work will allow for [collaboration]."
City Manager Cynthia Curry responded "The Alliance has met probably about four times so it is a process. I believe that the new money awarded to the City from the Alachua County Children's Trust will allow for the strategic planning process that needs to occur for a process to be put in place for the Alliance to be more effective than it is right now.... They do need to have a strategic planning process will organize different tasks and functions based on all of those people who are at the table. I know that Commissioner [Ed] Book attends those meetings quite often. I know that the Chief [is] at [most of] of those meetings."
Curry said she doesn't think the Alliance has a Request for Proposal outlined yet and Moya said "You'll see ours January 1. [You'll see] our strategic plan for the year on January 1."
Duncan-Walker asked when the Alliance meetings take place and Moya said that one took place on October 16.
Book said the Alliance meetings generally take place on first or second Wednesday of every month and that the Alliance tries to avoid schedule conflicts with the Black-on-Black Crime Task Force.
Book said he attended the previous Alliance meeting and that "a number of the Gainesville Police Department leaders [and] nine or ten community partners and the County was represented." Book said he didn't remember who he saw on the screen.
Duncan-Walker asked if the Alliance meetings appear on the City of Gainesville Public Meetings Calendar.
Curry said "I don't know that it does appear on the Commissioner's Calendar."
"I have not seen it and it is something I would be interested in attending," said Duncan-Walker. She said she would've went to the meetings if she knew when they were scheduled.
Curry said the City Clerk can get the Alliance meeting dates and put them on the calendar.
Book said the previous meeting was recorded but it still isn't available on the City of Gainesville Public Meetings Calendar. It doesn't appear any of the Alliance meetings or Black on Black Crime Task Force Meetings are posted on the calendar.
Florida Sunshine laws require Commissions and Boards to give "reasonable notice" of all meetings. Gainesville residents reasonably looking at the calendar for notice of meetings may have been unaware of when they took place.
Head of the traffic unit, Captain Kirk, (who did not state her first name), announced there’s been 17 vehicular homicides this year and two this quarter. She gave an update to vehicular homicide cases that have gotten media attention in the Gainesville community.
Jaileen Pagan was sentenced to 50 years in prison for leaving the scene after committing a hit-and run vehicular homicide. Kirk said this is the highest sentence she’s seen someone receive for a vehicular homicide in her career.
Kirk talked about the case where Lake City Rapper Raw Youngin, Eric Javah Baker killed a man named Chris in a hit-and-run vehicular homicide. Baker is currently in custody of the Alachua County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) jail.
Clip from City Meetings Page
Chris knew a lot about cars. “He knew the model, specs and even how to fix them,” said Chris’ best friend on a YouTube video (RftReacts). “He was more than happy to help fix my car. He came over to my house. He brought all his tools over and let me use all his tools. He walked me through how to fix my brake pad. I’ll never forget the confidence that gave me to have somebody helping me with something I had no clue about. He didn’t charge me anything; that shows the side of Chris that he’s willing to help others even though he can be sarcastic, exaggeratory, or hyperbolic; he still has a side to him where he can stop and help people out who need him.”
“No one’s taken the time to find out who has been affected by this. That’s why I made this video,” said Chris’s friend.
Chief Inspector Major Jamie Kurnick announced that nine new GPD officers were hired this quarter. One officer failed out of the field training program this quarter.
In August, the City Commission increased the starting salary for GPD officers from $50,000 to $60,000 amidst vacancies in the department. The salary for non-certified police officers was also increased by $10,000.
Kurnick credited Officer Amanda Figueredo for a promotional video GPD has published to encourage people to apply. “She created the video…. She coordinated this entire effort with the assistance of Lieutenant Marquitta Brown, Officer Ernest Graham, newly appointed Sergeant Johnson Castern, along with Sergeant Jaron Griffin.”
“As usual, we like to highlight officers who are recognized for their hard work,” said Moya, closing out the quarterly update.
Corporal Owen Osborne was awarded July 2024 Officer of the Month.
In September, Osborne and another GPD officer were outrun by a McDonald's employee who was indecently exposing himself, and he wasn’t arrested until months later.
Officer Andrew Milman was awarded August 2024 Officer of the Month.
Milman was found to have violated GPD general orders by making inappropriate comments following Terrell Bradley’s maiming by a K-9 two years ago.
In January 2024, Milman reported that "force ultimately had to be used to detain" an individual he mistakenly believed to be a suspect, who turned out to be an uninvolved neighbor.
Moya said both Milman and Osborne work in GPD’s patrol division and that they’re both “unique in how they approach their work and greatly admired.”
“None of this could be accomplished without the diligence and hard work of those that work the street, investigations, and the office; our support staff and our professional staff; none of it could be done without them. My job is merely to stand before you and report on their coordinated activities," Moya told the Gainesville City Commission.”
Commissioner Reina Saco commended Captain Young, saying she saw her pull a driver over after they almost hit a pedestrian and had “a conversation with that person.”
Saco said, “Our officers take every tier of safety in our community seriously, and seeing that on the way to work reminded me how good we have it and how good our agency is.”
The quarterly update received no public comment. Ward thanked the Chief and everyone involved in the update before the item was closed.
