24-time convicted felon charged with firearm and drug possession

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Emanuel Hampton, Jr., 50, was arrested early yesterday morning after a woman reported that an unknown man with a gun was knocking on her door.

A Gainesville Police Department officer responded to the call and reportedly saw Hampton walking out from the caller’s backyard; Hampton reportedly volunteered that he had marijuana on him and took it from his pocket.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a full box of 9mm ammunition in Hampton’s front pocket; the officer reportedly found a .380 handgun in the backyard, near loose cash and plastic baggies containing about 12.4 grams of marijuana and about 9.8 grams of crack cocaine.

Post Miranda, Hampton reportedly denied knowing anything about the gun or the drugs but admitted being in the backyard. The officer reported that Hampton initially denied having ammunition in his pocket but later admitted the ammunition belonged to him while denying he knew the caliber of the bullets; the officer also reported that he did not tell Hampton the caliber of the handgun, but Hampton said multiple times that the ammunition found in his pocket did not match the gun found in the backyard.

The officer reported that Hampton knew the caller’s mother.

Hampton has been charged with carrying a concealed firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, and possession of a controlled substance. He has 24 felony convictions (three violent) and 17 misdemeanor convictions (none violent). He has served six state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2018. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $187,500.

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.