Gainesville man arrested for drug trafficking and battering police officer

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Keith Lorenzo Singleton Jr., 38, was arrested last night for drug trafficking and battering a police officer after a traffic stop for a dimly-lit tag.

At about 11 p.m. on December 25, a Gainesville Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop in the 100 block of NE 9th Street on a vehicle with a “dimly lit amber tag light.” The officer noted that the tag was not visible at 50 feet, and he also queried the tag number and learned that the registered owner showed as having a suspended license.

The vehicle pulled over near the Aloha Liquor Store, and Singleton, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was asked to get out, along with the driver. The officer reported a smell of burnt cannabis coming from the vehicle, and after both Singleton and the driver were out of the vehicle, Singleton allegedly ran back to the vehicle, opened the front passenger door, took out a bag that had been at his feet, and started running.

An officer ran after Singleton and tackled him to the ground; during the struggle, Singleton allegedly head-butted the officer in the face and head. A second officer assisted with placing Singleton in handcuffs. A search of Singleton, incident to arrest, reportedly produced two bundles of cash in multiple denominations, totaling $2,497.

An officer and a K-9 team searched the bag Singleton had taken from the vehicle, and the search reportedly produced a baggie containing about 20.8 grams of fentanyl, multiple bags of marijuana totaling about 541.5 grams, 106 oxycodone pills weighing a total of 31.9 grams, a scale, and multiple sizes of baggies.

Singleton reportedly stated spontaneously that the bag belonged to him and the driver “had nothing to do with it.”

Post Miranda, Singleton did not want to answer any questions.

Singleton has been charged with trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in oxycodone, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, resisting an officer with violence, battery on a police officer, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has nine felony convictions (two violent) and seven misdemeanor convictions (non-violent) and has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in April 2025. Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

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.