Gainesville Police arrested a UF football player Saturday after he reportedly was part of an armed robbery at a Gainesville apartment complex.
At about 3:45 p.m. Saturday, Jerald Christopher "J.C." Jackson, 19, visited the apartment of an acquaintance at the Canopy apartment complex on Southwest 20th Avenue with two other people, according to a Gainesville Police Department sworn complaint.
Jackson contacted the acquaintance earlier to hang out and smoke marijuana, according to the report.
Jackson opened the door without knocking, looked inside and then quickly shut the door, according to the report. This was seen by two other apartment residents.
They informed the acquaintance about what Jackson had done, then he let Jackson and two unidentified suspects into the apartment, according to the report
Jackson pretended to take a phone call and backed out of the apartment, leaving the other five people inside, according to the report.
Almost immediately after Jackson left, one of the unknown suspects grabbed a small amount of marijuana off of a table and pulled out a gun, according to the report. He demanded the residents “get on the ground and empty their pockets."
The armed suspect pressed the gun to the acquaintance's face and demanded to know where they could find money and drugs, according to the report. While the armed suspect searched a room, the other suspect took money from all three residents’ pockets.
They collected $382 as well as two gaming systems from the living room, then the suspects left the apartment, according to the report.
While all of this was going on, it is unclear where Jackson was other than the fact that he was not in the apartment. He had fled by the time the acquaintance went back outside. The suspects were seen leaving in a red Nissan type car, and Jackson turned himself in later on Saturday at the Alachua County Jail according to a Gainesville Police Department summary.
Gainesville Police Department charged Jackson with felony robbery with a firearm. As of Sunday morning he was still in custody at the Alachua County Jail in lieu of a $150,000 bond.
"We are aware of the news involving J.C. Jackson and he is currently dealing with a serious issue,” Florida coach Jim McElwain said in a statement Sunday morning. “We don't condone any of his actions and it is not something that reflects on the expectations we have in the program. It is being handled accordingly due to the severity of his actions."
Follow Richard Johnson on Twitter @RagjUF
Redshirt freshman defensive back J.C. Jackson catches the ball during practice on March 16 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
