Gainesville man arrested for possession of drugs and stolen firearm

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jabari Nashawn Mitchell, 20, was arrested yesterday and charged with grand theft of a firearm, illegal concealed carry of a firearm, marijuana possession, and driving without a valid license.

At about 2:30 p.m. yesterday, a Gainesville Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on a car driven by Mitchell for running a stop sign at the intersection of NE 11th Terrace and NE 28th Avenue. The officer reported that Mitchell pulled into a driveway that he later said belonged to a friend. The officer reported that as she approached the car, she saw Mitchell reaching under his seat and moving a backpack around; she also reported smelling burnt marijuana, and she observed multiple small “roach blunts” in the driver’s side door.

Officers removed the occupants of the car, one at a time, and placed them in patrol cars.

A search of the vehicle reportedly produced a Glock 19 under the driver’s seat and a Glock magazine with 15 rounds in the driver’s side door pocket. A backpack in the center console reportedly contained a Springfield Hellcat with 13 rounds and 5.7 grams of marijuana. An empty Glock magazine was reportedly found in the center console. The Springfield Hellcat was previously reported stolen in Gainesville.

Post Miranda, Mitchell reportedly admitted owning the Glock and gave three different stories about how the magazine ended up in the door pocket. He reportedly denied ownership of the Springfield Hellcat but claimed ownership of the backpack; he said he didn’t know how the firearm got into the backpack.

Mitchell reportedly said he put the backpack in the back seat, and when he pulled into the driveway, the back seat passenger threw the backpack into the front seat and told him the gun was stolen. He said he didn’t know the passenger had a gun or that the gun was stolen until he was pulled over. He admitted knowing that his driver’s license was suspended.

Mitchell was charged with illegal possession of a concealed weapon because he is under 21 years old.

Witnesses from the car reportedly said the backpack was always in the front seat and there were no conversations in the car about a stolen gun in the backpack.

Mitchell has no criminal history. Judge Walter Green set bail at $24,000.

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.