18-year-old charged with stealing gun

Staff report

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Jacques Demetris Harris, 18, was arrested early this morning and charged with grand theft of a firearm, unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm, and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana after a deputy reportedly smelled marijuana during a traffic stop.

At about 3:42 a.m. on November 4, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy reported that he conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling “at a high rate of speed” on West Newberry Road; he also reported that after he started following the vehicle, it suddenly slowed and made an abrupt turn without signaling.

The deputy reported that he “immediately smelled the overwhelming odor of both burnt and raw marijuana” coming from Harris himself and from inside the vehicle. Harris reportedly told the deputy he had no weapons, firearms, hemp, marijuana, any other drugs, or a medical marijuana card in the vehicle. When the deputy asked about the smell of marijuana, Harris reportedly said he had been smoking marijuana in the vehicle with friends earlier.

Based on the smell of marijuana, the deputy conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and reportedly found a Taurus handgun with an extended magazine that had been reported stolen on September 25, a bag with about 7.3 grams of marijuana, and a glass jar containing marijuana residue and “shake.” The deputy noted that the gun had been stolen in Newberry and that Harris lives “fairly close” to the location where it was stolen. The gun was reportedly under the driver’s seat and readily accessible to Harris.

The deputy also noted that Harris was wearing all black clothing including a black ski mask.

Harris has no criminal convictions. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $77,000.

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.