The Ocala Police Department arrested a 71-year-old convicted felon and his 39-year-old passenger after a loaded firearm and marijuana were found inside their vehicle during a traffic stop.
On Wednesday, December 21, an OPD officer observed a pickup truck that ran the stop sign at the intersection of NE 7th Street and NW 27th Avenue. The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle near the 600 block of NW 27th Avenue, according to the OPD report.
The officer approached the vehicle and made contact with its two occupants: 71-year-old William Miller, Jr. (driver) and 39-year-old Arthur Lorenzo Bryant (passenger).
The officer requested the assistance of a K-9 officer and K-9 partner to conduct an open-air sniff of the vehicle. The OPD report stated that the K-9 partner gave a positive alert to the presence of narcotics, and Miller and Bryant were both ordered to exit the vehicle.
During a pat-down search of Bryant, a small clear plastic bag containing a green leafy substance was located in the front right pocket of his pants, and the substance later field-tested positive for marijuana. The officer noted in the report that the weight of the bag exceeded 20 grams.
The vehicle was searched, and a cigarette carton was located inside a compartment on the front driver’s side door. Inside that container, a small amount of a green leafy substance was observed, along with a hand-rolled cigarette that contained the same green leafy substance.
A loaded Taurus .357 magnum revolver was also located between the front driver’s seat and the center console of the vehicle.
Miller and Bryant were both detained. During an interview with an OPD officer, they both advised that they do not possess a medical marijuana license.
After being read his Miranda rights, Bryant refused to discuss the incident.
The officer read Miller his Miranda rights, and Miller claimed that the firearm found in the vehicle did not belong to him. He further stated that he had placed the firearm under the seat because “it was left in his vehicle.”
When asked about the marijuana that had been found in the compartment on the front driver’s side door, Miller admitted that it belonged to him.
A computer search of Miller revealed that he had multiple prior felony convictions.
Miller was arrested, transported to Marion County Jail, and he was later released on $14,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and carrying a concealed firearm, along with misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana (20 grams or less) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bryant was arrested, transported to Marion County Jail, and he was later released on $3,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for possession of marijuana (over 20 grams) and a misdemeanor charge for possession of drug paraphernalia.
A court date has not been scheduled yet for Miller or Bryant, according to jail records.
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