Whew, y’all — Florida has done it again. What started as a quick trip to a Gainesville Ace Hardware took a wild turn when 35-year-old Joshua Robert Spirit allegedly turned a father-daughter outing into a full-blown crime scene. Authorities say Spirit’s latest stunt has landed him behind bars facing some serious charges — and the details are jaw-dropping.
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Dad Turns Hardware Run Into Family Heist
According to reports, things went down around 4 p.m. on November 10th at Ace Hardware on University Avenue. Joshua Robert Spirit and his 6-year-old daughter were spotted in the tool section when, allegedly, the dad started slipping merchandise “into his person” and into his daughter’s bag — all while the little girl was reportedly “watching for people.” When a security guard noticed the pair passing all points of sale without paying for roughly $199 worth of goods, he tried to stop them. That’s when Spirit reportedly refused to comply and made a run for it. Law & Crime reports that Spirit may have briefly left his daughter amid this.
Spirit Ditches Daughter, Goes Full Fast & Furious
Things got even worse from there. As Spirit tried to take off with his daughter in his car, the guard stepped behind it to snap a picture of the license plate — and that’s when Spirit allegedly backed up and tapped the guard with his vehicle, while making his getaway. When police arrived at his home and confronted him, he reportedly made a run for it, leaving the child behind. Allegedly, Spirit bolted again, jumping over an 8-foot wall and trying to hide under a parked car at a nearby Walmart. When that didn’t work, he ran inside the store — but officers weren’t playing. A taser was eventually deployed before Spirit was taken into custody.
Probation Who? Judge Says “No Bond For You”
Authorities say Spirit was already on probation for previous nonviolent felonies. Now, he’s facing a laundry list of new charges, including child abuse and neglect. His bond was set at $45,000, but a judge ordered him held without bond while his probation is reviewed. As of now, it’s unclear when he’ll be back in court — but one thing’s for sure: the innanet had plenty to say about this one. Chile, not the “bring your kid to crime” day gone wrong!
