Gainesville Man Arrested on Grand Theft Auto Warrant, Allegedly Told Roommate to Call Police After Taking Car

Early Monday morning, Christopher Lightner, 39, was booked into the Alachua County Jail on a warrant for grand theft of a motor vehicle.

According to the arrest report, Lightner and the victim were roommates and resided with each other. 

On January 18, 2026, Lightner allegedly took the victim’s keys from a wall-hook and drove away with her vehicle. 

The victim went outside to see her vehicle was gone. She called Lightner and told him to come back. Lightner reportedly said he was not coming back. 

Lightner allegedly “texted the victim telling her to call the police to get her vehicle back.” 

According to the police report, this incident occurred because Lightner and the victim “got into an argument over [her] relationship with her boyfriend.” 

Gainesville Police Department Officer Brianna Zayas-Pabst reportedly attempted to call Lightner multiple times but he did not answer.

Lightner is held in the Alachua County Jail on a $25,000 bond set by Judge James Colaw.