Gainesville man arrested for leaving the scene of an accident and illegal possession of drugs and a firearm

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jayden Alexander-Lennon Moore, 22, was arrested last night after allegedly crashing into a tree and walking away without contacting law enforcement; THC was reportedly found in the car and in his pocket, and he was charged with possession of a concealed firearm during the commission of a felony after officers reportedly found a loaded handgun in his waistband.

At about 9:50 p.m. on December 9, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to calls about a crash at the corner of NW 19th Street and NW 31st Avenue and found an SUV wedged into a tree, with smoke coming from the vehicle.

When an officer opened the driver’s side door to check the vehicle for occupants, THC concentrate was reportedly found in plain view.

Two witnesses told officers that they saw a slender light-skinned black male get out of the vehicle and throw several beer bottles out of the vehicle. They also said they saw him take two bags from the vehicle and give them to two females who left the scene and were not identified. The witnesses said they saw the driver run westbound on NW 31st Avenue, and officers reportedly found Moore about a block from the crash. Moore reportedly told officers that he had been driving the vehicle and was the sole occupant at the time of the crash.

Officers detained Moore in handcuffs, and a search reportedly produced a loaded Glock 43X handgun in his waistband and a THC extract vape in his pocket.

Officers reported that Moore smelled “heavily” of alcoholic beverages, he spoke slowly and seemed confused, and his eyes were glassy. However, the arrest report does not mention field sobriety exercises, and Moore was not charged with driving while impaired.

Post Miranda, Moore reportedly refused to answer any questions.

Officers reportedly found some discarded Modelo beer bottles in the area where the witnesses said the driver had thrown them, and a Modelo beer cap was found inside the vehicle, along with an empty THC concentrate vape cartridge.

Moore has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, and possession of a concealed firearm during the commission of a felony. He has no criminal history, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $70,000 but ordered that he could be released on his own recognizance if he is accepted into the Drug Court program.

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.