18-year-old and two juveniles arrested with drugs, handguns, and AR-15

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Emanuel Leon Baker III, 18, was arrested Sunday morning along with two juveniles and charged with one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

A Gainesville Police Department Officer responded at 2:45 a.m. to a call about juveniles trespassing at The Polos apartment complex. Security guards working at the complex told the officer that this has been a recurring issue and that the juveniles had previously been seen in a white Mazda. The juveniles fled the area when law enforcement arrived, but security called 911 again later, saying they’d found the juveniles in the parking lot.

The officer found several teenagers, male and female, in the car and reportedly smelled fresh marijuana coming from the car. After the occupants had been asked to get out of the car, a search of the car reportedly found a handgun on the driver’s floorboard and another handgun under the front passenger seat. Both were loaded with a round in the chamber and readily accessible to the occupants of the car. A loaded AR-15 was reportedly found in the trunk of the car.

Baker reportedly said the car and AR-15 were his.

One of the juveniles said the pistol under the front passenger seat was his and that he stole it from a vehicle about a month ago. Another juvenile said the pistol on the driver’s side floorboard was his and that he stole it from a white F-150 truck about two weeks ago.

Baker was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor for knowingly allowing the two juveniles to be in the car and to possess marijuana and stolen firearms.

Baker was released on a signature bond.

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.