High-Speed Newberry Chase Linked to Gilchrist County Attempted Homicide

NEWBERRY ‒ Two men were arrested early Thursday morning, Sept. 12, 2024, after an Alachua County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a vehicle connected to an attempted homicide in Gilchrist County. Jesse Wayne Richards, 48, the driver, and Scotty Jacob Davidson, 37, were taken into custody following a chase that ended with Richards ramming a gate on private property, causing approximately $3,500 in damage.

The chase began when an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputy stationed on West Newberry Road spotted a light blue Ford Escape matching the description of a vehicle involved in a shooting that took place in the Bell area of Gilchrist County on Sept. 11, 2024. The vehicle’s tag matched the alert tied to the crime, and the deputy followed it until backup arrived.

When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle with stop sticks near 170^th Street, Richards allegedly fled, turning north onto Northwest 180^th Street. The chase ended when Richards rammed a gate and was disabled by a sheriff’s vehicle on private property. Both Richards and Davidson were arrested at the scene.

Richards, who is described as homeless in the arrest report, has a lengthy criminal record, including four felony convictions and eight misdemeanor convictions. He has served two state prison sentences out of Marion and Citrus counties, with his most recent release in January 2024.

Additionally, Richards has a history of criminal activity in several states, including South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, and Oklahoma. He also has three active out-of-state warrants.

Richards has been charged with property damage and attempting to elude law enforcement. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set his bail at $350,000.

Davidson, who had an outstanding warrant for two counts of attempted homicide, one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, was also booked. His bail was set at $1.5 million, the amount specified in the warrant issued by Gilchrist County.

The events leading to the arrests stem from a shooting on Sept. 11, 2024, in the Gilchrist County Bell area, where a man was shot in the leg and transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Davidson, along with two unidentified men and a woman, is believed to have been involved in the shooting.

Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz praised the quick response and investigation conducted by Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office deputies and investigators and thanked Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies for their work in apprehending Richards and Davidson.

The investigation is ongoing, with additional charges and arrests expected as the case unfolds. A video of Richards’ apprehension has been posted on social media and can be viewed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/reel/1352371422395223.

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