A suspect was arrested Monday night after a foot chase that started as an arrest warrant traffic stop prompted the man to run.
Gainesville Police attempted a traffic stop of Antonio DeNova, 27, at approximately 6:20 p.m. to serve an arrest warrant, according to authorities. DeNova reportedly fled the traffic stop on foot during the course of the stop.
At approximately 8:15 p.m. a Hall County Sheriff’s Office deputy was patrolling an area around the IHOP restaurant on Jesse Jewell Parkway after GPD had requested assistance in locating DeNova.
The deputy reportedly heard a woman screaming from the IHOP parking lot, claiming that a man was hiding under her vehicle. The deputy identified the man as DeNova as he ran across the IHOP parking lot toward Jesse Jewell Parkway, authorities said Tuesday.
The deputy began to chase DeNova on foot for a short distance until he lost sight of him.
A GPD officer then reported seeing DeNova near a residence on Johnson Street in Gainesville. Units with both the GPD and HCSO responded to the residence, where DeNova was located inside.
DeNova reportedly resisted deputies' attempts to put him in handcuffs. Additionally, a woman, later identified as DeNova’s mother, Francisca Losa, 59, of Gainesville, tried to pull deputies away from DeNova during the course of the arrest.
DeNova was taken into custody at approximately 9:05 p.m. and was charged by the HCSO with five counts of obstruction of an officer. He was also charged with loitering and prowling for hiding under the vehicle at IHOP.
DeNova self-identified as homeless, according to authorities.
Losa was charged with misdemeanor obstruction. Both DeNova and Losa remained in the Hall County Jail as of the last report.
DeNova was wanted previously for probation violation and theft by taking a motor vehicle on Dec. 11, 2023.
