Updated at 5:15 p.m. with information about ownership of the house.
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Eric Shirone Thompson, 46, was arrested yesterday after a search warrant reportedly found multiple firearms and narcotics in the house he was renting; the owner of the house has claimed that the action was taken in retaliation against him.
The now-terminated Acting Executive Director of Keep Alachua County Beautiful (KACB), Tyler Smith, was evicted this week from a City-owned house where the nonprofit had previously hosted a clean-up event. According to a TV20 story , City officials said the nonprofit was not authorized to use the house as an office; Smith told TV20, “We’re here because of our desperate circumstances. We had mold and sewage in our other office and this was our only available option.” Smith’s email signature still shows the KACB logo but lists his title as “Terminated Acting Executive Director.”
Yesterday, Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers served a search warrant on a different house, owned by Preserving Architecture Through History LLC, and arrested Thompson, who is on probation. According to Thompson’s arrest report, the investigation and warrant execution found that the residence was involved in illegal narcotics trafficking. The search reportedly found multiple firearms, including one under Thompson’s pillow on his bed; about 3.5 grams of fentanyl FTP; and tools used to prepare cocaine.