A 35-year-old man was arrested on the night of May 31, 2025, after leading Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers on a three-mile low-speed chase through several apartment complexes off Archer Road. The suspect, identified as Jerry Wayne Brunson Jr., has a history of similar incidents and now faces fresh charges for fleeing police and driving with a revoked license.
Illegal U-Turn Sparks Police Chase
The incident began around 9:39 p.m. when a GPD officer noticed a red sedan, driven by Brunson, make an illegal U-turn at a red light near SW 23rd Terrace. The officer attempted a traffic stop, but Brunson did not comply. Instead, he continued westbound toward the Brandywine apartment complex, where he temporarily stopped his car.
Brunson engaged with the officer at the Brandywine complex, refusing to turn off the vehicle or show his hands. Without warning, he resumed driving and led officers through the complex and into nearby Hidden Village apartments.
Evasive Driving Through Residential Areas
During the pursuit, Brunson carefully navigated through tight roads and intersections within the apartment complexes, avoiding multiple roadblocks. According to the arrest report, he nearly struck law enforcement vehicles and civilian cars while ignoring traffic signs and control devices.
Due to growing safety concerns for residents and officers, GPD ultimately made the decision to call off the pursuit after approximately three miles.
Vehicle Found Abandoned, Suspect Tracked Down
Roughly ten minutes later, officers found Brunson’s red sedan abandoned with a flat tire in the Butler Plaza area. The car had been left on the side of the road.
A short distance away, officers located Brunson in the passenger seat of another car registered to his wife. He complied with commands and was taken into custody without further incident.
When questioned, Brunson told officers he fled the initial traffic stop because he was “scared of police” and would have pulled over if he had been in a well-lit area with someone else present. He also claimed he was unaware that his driver’s license had been revoked on April 9, 2025.
Prior Convictions and Repeat Offenses
Brunson’s arrest history reveals multiple prior offenses, including three felony convictions — two of which were for fleeing police — and three misdemeanors. In 2022, he was involved in a similar chase after initially stopping for officers and then driving away. He was sentenced to one year of probation in February 2023 but later received a nine-month jail term for violating that probation.
He is now facing charges of:
- Fleeing and eluding law enforcement with active lights and sirens
- Driving while license revoked (DWLR)
Alachua County Judge Sheree Lancaster has set his bond at $27,500.
GPD Urges Public to Cooperate During Traffic Stops
The Gainesville Police Department has not issued an official statement regarding this particular case but frequently emphasizes the importance of complying during traffic stops to avoid dangerous outcomes.
For guidelines on how to interact safely during police encounters, the public is encouraged to refer to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website.