ACSO arrests armed convict leaving city bus

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) arrested 13-time convicted felon Joshua Hall, 36, of Gainesville while getting off a city bus downtown on Tuesday.

Kaley Behl, spokesperson for ACSO, said deputies have spent weeks searching for Hall. They arrested him on charges of second-degree felony criminal conspiracy, trafficking in narcotics, and using a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony.  

Once arrested, investigators found a trafficking amount of synthetic narcotics on Hall, a 9mm handgun, scale and more ammunition.  

Along with the charges on his arrest warrant, Hall will now also face charges of possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon, trafficking in synthetic narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony, according to the ACSO. 

Behl said the sheriff’s office is tired of seeing citizens hurt and victimized by gun violence.  

“We are really serious with dealing with the gun violence in Alachua County,” she said in a phone interview.  

She said Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr. and the department are cracking down, and the department was excited to find Hall after searching for weeks.  

“It’s got to stop; it’s out of control,” Behl said.  

The arrest came days after the Gainesville Police Department held a “Night of Compassion” to honor victims and rally the community against gun violence.