Pair arrested after allegedly threatening mall employees and battering officer

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jordan Bernard Johnson, 31, and Maria Anissa Eduvigis Porter, 26, both of Jacksonville, were arrested yesterday after Jordan allegedly threatened mall employees and Porter battered an officer while slamming a door open to get past her.

At about 12:29 p.m. yesterday, a housekeeping employee at the Oaks Mall noted that Johnson and Porter were acting suspiciously in the food court area. After Porter went into the nursing room and Johnson went into the family restroom, the employee asked if they were okay. Jordan allegedly said he was going to “pop” her and pointed his hand at her in the shape of a gun. The employee contacted mall security, and when a security officer arrived, he reportedly recognized them as suspects who had recently threatened to “shoot up the mall/employees.”

When the security officer approached Jordan, Jordan allegedly said he was going to “pop” him, too, making the shape of a gun with his hand.

Johnson and Porter started to leave the mall, with Jordan reaching into his waistband and in and out of a bag he was carrying. The mall’s Director of Security arrived and followed the pair in his vehicle while calling 911 and providing updates on their location.

A Gainesville Police Department Officer responded and saw the pair crossing Newberry Road northbound into the parking lot of a gas station. The officer ordered them to stop, but they allegedly cursed at the officer and said they would not stop because they had done nothing wrong.

The officer followed the pair into the store, where they went to the counter. The officer asked the clerk not to serve them until she could speak with them, and they reportedly tried to leave the store. The officer put her arms across the doors and said she needed to talk to them, but they allegedly yelled and cursed at her, and then Porter reached under her arm and slammed it open, catching the officer’s hand in the paddle on the door.

The pair allegedly continued to walk down Newberry Road, ignoring commands to stop until backup arrived. Porter was detained without incident, but Jordan allegedly resisted being handcuffed.

Post Miranda, Johnson denied the allegations and said the victims were lying because he is black and has braids.

Post Miranda, Porter denied the allegations.

Johnson has been charged with making a threat to do violence and resisting an officer without violence. His complete criminal history is unavailable, but he has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2013. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $25,000.

Porter has been charged with battery on an officer and resisting an officer without violence. She has no local criminal history. Judge Rawls set bail at $2,500.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The post Pair arrested after allegedly threatening mall employees and battering officer appeared first on Alachua Chronicle .