Alachua Police Department

05/28/2026

𝗞-𝟵 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝘀𝗲𝘆 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻! 🎓🐾

Y’all remember Officer Wetzel and K-9 Ramsey recently graduating from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement 480-hour K-9 Patrol Certification Course after completing over 500 hours of intensive training in tracking, apprehension, obedience, and area and building searches?

Well, guess what? Ramsey said he wasn’t finished.

Over the past two months, Officer Wetzel and K-9 Ramsey have been back at it, continuing their training and working toward Ramsey’s narcotics detection certification.

And now, K-9 Ramsey has officially added another “degree” to his résumé!

The training was conducted through the Marion County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit under the leadership of Sergeant Jay Nix, who also hand-selected K-9 Ramsey for our agency. We are incredibly grateful for their mentorship and partnership throughout this process.

This accomplishment is especially meaningful as it took place on Sergeant Nix’s last day with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office following an extensive and dedicated career. We want to 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗡𝗶𝘅 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 and thank him for his years of service, leadership, and commitment to the law enforcement K-9 community.

K-9 Ramsey was made possible through the generous support of our community and K9s United, whose commitment to law enforcement K-9 programs continues to make a lasting impact.

Please join us in congratulating Officer Wetzel and K-9 Ramsey on this impressive accomplishment, and in wishing Sergeant Nix all the best in his retirement. We’re proud of their continued dedication, hard work, and service to our community.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝘁𝘇𝗲𝗹, 𝗞-𝟵 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝘀𝗲𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗡𝗶𝘅!

05/28/2026

𝗗𝗨𝗜 𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 - 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲: 𝟮𝟲𝗔𝗣𝗗𝟬𝟬𝟲𝟱𝟴

On May 26, 2026, at approximately 10:13 p.m., Officer Tapanes was conducting routine patrol in the area of NW U.S. Highway 441 and NW 135th Terrace when he observed a black SUV enter the northbound lanes of NW U.S. Highway 441 from the southbound lanes.

Officer Tapanes activated his emergency lights, and the vehicle came to a stop in the northbound lanes while facing southbound. As Officer Tapanes turned around and positioned his patrol vehicle behind the SUV, the vehicle again began traveling southbound in the northbound lanes. Officer Tapanes activated his siren and continued the traffic stop.

After the vehicle came to a stop, Officer Tapanes attempted to communicate with the driver, identified as 42-year-old Anh Nguyen of Gainesville, but quickly recognized there was a language barrier. For officer safety, Officer Tapanes waited for additional law enforcement resources to arrive before approaching the vehicle.

While Officer Tapanes was waiting for additional units, Nguyen fled from the traffic stop in the vehicle and made a U-turn to travel north on NW U.S. Highway 441. Officer Tapanes and Sergeant Horn then used their patrol vehicles to safely immobilize the SUV. Nguyen was removed from the vehicle and detained.

During the investigation, Officer Tapanes observed several clues of impairment. After Nguyen stated he understood English, Officer Tapanes asked if he would perform field sobriety exercises, to which Nguyen replied, “call my lawyer.” Nguyen was placed under arrest and transported to the Alachua County Jail. Translation resources were used to explain the breath test process. The breath test was ultimately deemed a refusal after Nguyen did not provide a sufficient breath sample.

Nguyen was charged with:

• Reckless Driving
• Driving Under the Influence
• Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement with Lights and Siren Active
• Refusal to Submit to a DUI Breath Test

The Alachua Police Department reminds drivers that impaired driving and wrong-way driving create serious risks for everyone on the roadway. Please plan ahead, designate a sober driver, or arrange a safe ride home.

05/27/2026

𝗔𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱.

𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧

Effective today, May 27, 2026, Alachua County has lifted the countywide burn ban following substantial rainfall across the region over the past several days and additional rain forecasted throughout the week.

County officials, in coordination with the Florida Forest Service (FFS), determined that improving environmental conditions have significantly reduced the immediate threat of wildfires.

The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), which measures soil and vegetation dryness, has dropped to 415 from 618 last week and is expected to continue declining as rainfall persists.

“Recent rainfall has significantly improved conditions across Alachua County and reduced the wildfire risk that led to the burn ban,” said Fire Chief Harold Theus. “While the ban is being lifted, we encourage residents to continue practicing safe and responsible outdoor burning to help prevent accidental fires.”

Residents are reminded to follow all local and state regulations regarding outdoor burning. Officials caution that dry conditions can return quickly, especially during warm, windy periods.

Alachua County Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service will continue monitoring drought conditions, weather patterns, and wildfire activity. If conditions worsen, the county may reinstate the burn ban to protect public safety and property.

Residents are encouraged to stay informed through official Alachua County communication channels for updates regarding burn conditions and potential restrictions.

05/25/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

As we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, we encourage everyone to observe Memorial Day safely and responsibly.

We remember. We honor. We are grateful.

05/23/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗮 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Under the leadership of Police Academy Lead Defensive Tactics Instructor Lt. Nahrwold (APD), Effective Fitness Combatives was brought to the Police Academy, providing an opportunity for instructors and law enforcement agencies from across Florida to train, learn, and grow together.

After completing a demanding, week-long Effective Fitness Combatives instructor course, Lt. Nahrwold received certification in EFC’s science-driven fitness and combatives program. This certification strengthens APD’s ability to support advanced defensive tactics instruction, both within our agency and through the Police Academy’s Training Division.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙀𝙁𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙬 𝙚𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙣, 𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚-𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙞𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨.

This training aligns with APD’s continued focus on developing confident, capable, and well-prepared officers through realistic instruction, collaboration, and continued professional growth.

These tactics are designed to improve control during arrest situations by giving officers proven tools to gain compliance more effectively, reduce unnecessary force, and help prevent injuries to both officers and suspects.

The instructors who participated in this training are now better equipped to pass these tactics, concepts, and techniques on to recruits and new officers, strengthening the foundation of defensive tactics instruction at the Academy and beyond.

By investing in advanced instructor-level training opportunities, APD is not only strengthening our own agency, but also supporting the Training Division’s mission at the Academy. This helps prepare future officers and partner agencies to better serve their communities.

Progressive training. Professional development. Better service.

05/21/2026

𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 (𝟱/𝟮𝟭/𝟮𝟲 𝗮𝘁 𝟰:𝟭𝟵 𝗣𝗠): Erilynn has been located and is safe.
Thank you to everyone who shared information and assisted in bringing her home safely.

𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 (𝟱/𝟮𝟭/𝟮𝟲 𝗮𝘁 𝟰:𝟭𝟵 𝗣𝗠): Erilynn has been located and is safe.

Thank you to everyone who shared information and assisted in bringing her home safely.

----

🚨 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗝𝗨𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧 🚨

𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: ERILYNN BASSETT
𝗔𝗴𝗲: 15 years old
𝗦𝗲𝘅/𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲: Black Female
𝗛𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁/𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 4’10” / 100 lbs
𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗿/𝗘𝘆𝗲𝘀: Blonde hair / Brown eyes

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗻: Erilynn Bassett was last seen in the area of Sherwood Oaks Apartments (13605 NW CR 235, Alachua, FL 32615).

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: May 15, 2026.

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 1:30 AM.

𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴: Beige T-shirt, blue shorts, and black and white shoes.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀: Erilynn has a known pattern of voluntary absence from home.

𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: 26APD00615

If you have any information regarding Erilynn’s whereabouts, please contact the Alachua Police Department at 386-462-1396 or 911.

05/20/2026

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝘃𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗜-𝟳𝟱 - 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲: 𝟮𝟲𝗔𝗣𝗗𝟬𝟬𝟲𝟮𝟱

On May 17, 2026, at approximately 9:48 p.m., Officers were alerted to a stolen vehicle in the area. Shortly after, Officer Gaston located the vehicle exiting the BP Gas Station located at 15980 NW US Highway 441 in Alachua. The vehicle, a stolen 2016 Audi A4 reported out of Sandy Springs, Georgia, failed to stop for law enforcement. The driver, 27-year-old Nathaniel Gates of Atlanta, Georgia, fled from officers, accelerating onto Interstate 75 northbound before eventually stopping near mile marker 399.

After stopping the vehicle, officers awaited additional law enforcement resources to safely conduct a high-risk traffic stop. Assisting agencies included the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the High Springs Police Department. Officers safely detained Gates without further incident. After being detained, Gates advised officers that passenger, 22-year-old Jada Kendrick of Atlanta, Georgia, was pregnant and that they were traveling to the hospital. Kendrick was then safely detained and transported by Alachua County Fire Rescue to a local medical facility for evaluation before later being released back into law enforcement custody.

During a search of the vehicle, officers located a stolen G***k .40 caliber handgun beneath the passenger seat and recovered two Oxycodone Hydrochloride 5mg tablets from Gates’ wallet. Officers also confirmed the firearm had been reported stolen in the same Georgia case as the vehicle. During post-Miranda interviews, Gates admitted his fingerprints could be on the firearm after handling it inside the vehicle. Kendrick admitted to knowingly taking the stolen vehicle and acknowledged knowing the stolen firearm was inside the vehicle.

Nathaniel Gates was charged with:
• Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement
• Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle
• Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
• Possession of a Controlled Substance Without a Prescription

Jada Kendrick was charged with:
• Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle
• Grand Theft of a Firearm

Both individuals were transported to the Alachua County Jail.

05/18/2026

𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 (𝟱/𝟮𝟭/𝟮𝟲 𝗮𝘁 𝟰:𝟭𝟵 𝗣𝗠): Erilynn has been located and is safe.

Thank you to everyone who shared information and assisted in bringing her home safely.

----

🚨 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗝𝗨𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧 🚨

𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: ERILYNN BASSETT
𝗔𝗴𝗲: 15 years old
𝗦𝗲𝘅/𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲: Black Female
𝗛𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁/𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 4’10” / 100 lbs
𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗿/𝗘𝘆𝗲𝘀: Blonde hair / Brown eyes

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗻: Erilynn Bassett was last seen in the area of Sherwood Oaks Apartments (13605 NW CR 235, Alachua, FL 32615).

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: May 15, 2026.

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 1:30 AM.

𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴: Beige T-shirt, blue shorts, and black and white shoes.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀: Erilynn has a known pattern of voluntary absence from home.

𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: 26APD00615

If you have any information regarding Erilynn’s whereabouts, please contact the Alachua Police Department at 386-462-1396 or 911.