Gainesville felon arrested after officers find gun and multiple concealed knives during traffic stop

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Joshua Austin Bailey, 37, was arrested last night after officers reportedly found a firearm and multiple concealed knives during a traffic stop.

At about 8:59 p.m. on September 1, a Gainesville Police Department officer saw a vehicle traveling at about 46 mph in a 30-mph zone and conducted a traffic stop in the 1300 block of South Main Street after pacing the vehicle for over 10 blocks.

The officer reported that Bailey was sitting in the driver’s seat and was the sole occupant of the vehicle; the officer also noted a strong odor of fresh marijuana. When the officer asked Bailey for his driver’s license, Bailey reportedly reached into a black book bag that was on the seat, and the officer told him to stop reaching into the book bag and to get out of the vehicle.

Bailey reportedly said he had a medical marijuana card and there might be a burnt “blunt” or “roach” in the center console; the officer confirmed that the medical marijuana card was valid, but he learned that Bailey did not have any active open orders.

A probable-cause search of the vehicle reportedly produced the following items:

• A loaded and chambered Taurus G2, two fixed-blade knives with duct tape sheaths, and Bailey’s wallet in the book bag;
• A fixed-blade knife with no sheath between the driver’s seat and the center console;
• A fixed-blade knife/machete with a cloth sheath tucked between the front passenger seat and the center console;
• A THC vape wrapper, THC-P container, and Hemp Cannabis container in the center console.

All of the knives were reportedly concealed from view but readily accessible to Bailey, who reportedly acknowledged that he knows he is a felon.

Post Miranda, Bailey reportedly said the vehicle belonged to a relative, and he added that the book bag also belonged to the relative and the firearm was not his. He said the knives belonged to his son and that his son had been cleaning the vehicle before he drove it; he said his son must have put his wallet in the book bag. He said his son had not finished cleaning the vehicle because his dog urinated and defecated.

Bailey was reportedly unable to explain why there was an unsheathed knife between his seat and the center console; he reportedly said it had fallen there.

At the jail, Bailey reportedly said he had gone camping over the weekend with his son and a woman, and that was why the knives were in the vehicle.

The officer cited Bailey for unlawful speed and charged him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Bailey has two felony convictions (two violent). Judge Lua Lepianka set bail at $15,000.

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.