Crime & Safety
Alachua County, FL Carjacking Report Allegedly Faked After Crash
Archer, FL – A reported armed carjacking near Gainesville took an unexpected turn after Alachua County deputies determined that the alleged victim had actually fled a traffic stop, crashed his vehicle
By Evan Cross · 2026-11-04T20:08:30.677Z
Archer, FL – A reported armed carjacking near Gainesville took an unexpected turn after Alachua County deputies determined that the alleged victim had actually fled a traffic stop, crashed his vehicle and fabricated the robbery story, according to investigators.
According to the Alachua County Sheriff 's Office, the incident began late Tuesday, Nov. 3, when a deputy attempted to stop a silver sedan near Southwest 132nd Avenue and State Road 45 in Archer.
The driver allegedly refused to stop and sped away, eventually disappearing from the deputy's view.
Armed Carjacking Report Raises Suspicions
Approximately 45 minutes later, deputies responded to a reported armed carjacking in the same area.
The caller, identified as 23 year old Jonah Godbolt, claimed three people had stolen his vehicle at gunpoint before fleeing toward Gainesville.
However, the responding deputy reportedly noticed that Godbolt closely resembled the driver who had fled the earlier traffic stop.
Godbolt allegedly denied driving the vehicle, claiming he had chased the carjackers into nearby woods.
Deputies noticed he was disheveled, covered in leaves and missing a shoe.
Missing Shoe Helps Unravel Alleged Hoax
Investigators later discovered Godbolt's crashed vehicle in a wooded area near Southwest 134th Avenue and Southwest 170th Street.
Authorities said the vehicle matched the sedan involved in the earlier pursuit.
A shoe recovered near the crash scene was subsequently identified as belonging to Godbolt.
Investigators concluded that Godbolt allegedly crashed while fleeing deputies, entered the woods and called 911 to explain the wreck through a fabricated carjacking report.
Four Charges Filed
The Sheriff's Office said Godbolt was a convicted felon who was already on probation.
He was arrested on charges of fleeing and eluding with emergency lights activated, falsely reporting a crime, leaving the scene of a property damage crash and violating probation.
The allegations remain pending, and Godbolt is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.