Homeless couple arrested for misusing 911 during suspicious vehicle investigation

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jared Matthew Hale, 42, and Lauren Lee Langlois, 38, were arrested early this morning after they allegedly called 911 while deputies were ordering them to get out of their car.

At about 2:21 a.m. on June 28, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle at the Circle K at 7501 W. Newberry Road; the deputies reported that Hale and Langlois were sitting in the car, which did not have a valid tag, and they allegedly disposed of ashes from their cigarettes on the ground, in violation of Florida’s litter laws. A deputy reported that the vehicle’s registration had expired a year ago.

Reportedly, deputies approached the vehicle, explained the litter violation, and asked the pair to exit the car for officer safety reasons. Hale supposedly stated that he was fine where he was since he hadn't broken any laws, and neither of them exited the vehicle. The deputies repositioned their patrol car, with its lights on, behind the unregistered vehicle.

Hale was ordered to get out of the vehicle and walk back to the patrol vehicle, and the deputies reported that they again explained that refusing to comply with a lawful order could result in an arrest for resisting an officer without violence.

The couple allegedly continued to refuse orders to get out of the vehicle, arguing that they had done nothing wrong. After they were told they were under arrest, they still allegedly refused to get out of the vehicle.

During this time, Hale allegedly told Langlois to call 911, and she did, although they were verbally warned against calling 911 because there was no emergency. The call-taker reportedly heard both Hale and Langlois on the call, and Hale reportedly told the call-taker there were multiple law enforcement officers telling them to get out of the car, but they were scared and had done nothing wrong; the call-taker told them to get out of the vehicle.

Hale and Langlois reportedly refused to get out of the vehicle for about nine minutes, which led to a large law enforcement response, with additional patrol vehicles arriving. The pair eventually got out of the vehicle and were arrested.

After Miranda, Hale reportedly said he did not understand his rights and claimed he had done nothing wrong. He reportedly later said he was "scared" and that he hadn’t slept in three days. He also reportedly told EMS personnel that he had instructed Langlois to call 911.

After Miranda, Langlois reportedly declined to say anything.

Hale and Langlois, who are listed as homeless on their arrest reports, have been charged with resisting an officer without violence and the unauthorized use of 911 services, and they were issued written warnings for littering. They have no local criminal history, and Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered them released on their own recognizance.

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 Homeless pair arrested for misusing 911 during suspicious vehicle investigation appeared first on Alachua Chronicle .