Gainesville Police arrested a man Saturday for aggressively demanding money from people.
Daniel Deperte
Daniel Deperte, 42, knocked on an apartment door at 1225 SW First Ave. and demanded $45 Thursday at 10:45 p.m., according to an arrest report. The 17-year-old who answered the door was visiting from out of town and told police he was confused and didn’t know what to do.
Deperte told the teenager the money was for his 44th birthday, and then said he needed it for his daughter, according to the report. Deperte said he would pay him back, and the teenager gave Deperte $44 to make him leave.
Police showed the teenager a photo lineup and he identified Deperte, police said.
Deperte had aggressively demanded money from others before at other homes and businesses, according to the report. In some instances, Deperte was seen by officers reporting to the same apartment complex.
Deperte had told other victims he was a UF employee or he had just been robbed, according to the report. Police said his actions were becoming more aggressive.
Deperte’s alias is Daniel Strawer, and he lives at the St. Francis House, according to the report.
Deperte was arrested on charges of burglary and scheming to defraud. Authorities took him to Alachua County Jail where he remains, as of press time, in lieu of a $100,000 bond.
Contact Meryl Kornfield at mkornfield@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @MerylKornfield
