19-year-old arrested for carrying concealed AK-47-style pistol

Staff report

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Romance Lamar Bryant, Jr., 19, was arrested early this morning for unlawfully carrying a concealed Draco AK-47-style pistol.

At about 2:34 a.m. on May 8, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a bicycle for riding against the flow of traffic with no lights on SR 45 in Newberry.

The deputy reportedly asked Bryant whether he had any weapons and noted this “is a standard question on all stops.” When Bryant said he did, the deputy followed up by asking about the weapon, and Bryant reportedly said he had an “assault rifle” in his backpack. Bryant was detained because 19-year-olds cannot lawfully carry a concealed firearm; the deputy also reported that Bryant and the backpack smelled like marijuana.

A search of Bryant’s backpack reportedly produced a Draco AK-47-style pistol with a loaded magazine of 7.62×39 bullets.

Post Miranda, Bryant reportedly said a friend had given him the backpack at a nearby gas station, a few minutes before the stop. He said he knew there was a gun in the backpack and he knew he could not legally carry a concealed firearm because he is under 21. He reportedly expressed regret for his choice to carry the firearm and denied possessing any drugs but said he might have a small amount of marijuana in his jacket.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced one broken oxycodone pill, which Bryant spontaneously said was “probably a perc.”

Bryant has been charged with unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He has no criminal history; Judge Adam Lee set bail at $30,000.

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.