Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Orvil Eugene Stone, Jr., 53, was arrested yesterday for allegedly stealing 27 cans of beer from a convenience store; he has also been charged with stealing a car a few days before his arrest.
At about 6:11 p.m. on December 15, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a report of a theft at the Maa & Paa store (6410 SW 8th Avenue) and found Stone a few blocks away. The deputy reported that when Stone saw him, he quickly entered the Shellrock Villas apartment complex, and when the deputy turned into that complex, Stone started running. The deputy reported that Stone jumped a wooden privacy fence into a retention pond and continued running.
Other deputies found Stone, who allegedly refused commands to stop before being taken into custody. A search reportedly produced a glass pipe used to smoke narcotics.
A representative of Maa & Paa said Stone entered the store, walked straight to the beer cooler, picked out a 15-pack of Natural Ice and a 12-pack of Heineken beer cans, and walked out without paying. The beer was valued at $41.91. The store provided pictures from surveillance video that reportedly showed a clear photo of Stone’s face, and he was wearing the same clothes as he was when he was arrested.