Gainesville police arrested a man who fled on foot during a traffic stop, ran into a nearby apartment and held the two residents hostage until officers forced their way inside to apprehend him early Wednesday morning.
According to a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) social media release, during a traffic stop, the passenger of the vehicle, 33-year-old Kendrick Bullard, got out of the vehicle and fled on foot.
Bullard reportedly ran into an apartment in the 2200 block of SW 34th Street and, during the investigation, officers discovered that the apartment was not Bullard’s and the residents inside were being held against their will.
Officers made PA announcements for Bullard to exit the residence before forcing their way inside the apartment, where they were able to evacuate the two residents. The residents told officers that the unknown man was still inside. Bullard was found hiding in a bedroom closet and arrested around 4:30 a.m.
Bullard was charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling, resisting without violence and two counts of false imprisonment. He was also found to have an outstanding warrant. He is being held on a $220,000 bond in the Alachua County Jail.