Gainesville man arrested on drug and firearm charges in Alachua

Staff report

ALACHUA, Fla. – Dealijah Depatrick Seay, 18, of Gainesville, was arrested on drug and firearm charges after a traffic stop yesterday in Alachua.

At about 4:21 p.m. on February 1, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that was traveling 65 mph in a 45 mph zone and had a tag that was not assigned to that vehicle. The trooper also suspected that the window tint was darker than the legal limit and later noted that this was confirmed.

The vehicle pulled over on U.S. Hwy 441 near NW 129th Terrace, and Seay, the driver, reportedly stated spontaneously that he was only driving 60 mph in a 45 mph zone. The trooper noted a strong smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.

The trooper asked Seay to step out of the vehicle, and Seay reportedly stated spontaneously that he had a handgun and marijuana in the vehicle, but only about “8 grams.”

A search of the vehicle based on these statements reportedly produced a bag of about 21 grams of marijuana, a “grinder,” and a loaded 9mm pistol with three loaded magazines and a box of 9mm bullets.

The pistol was reported stolen in Gainesville in 2025.

Post Miranda, Seay reportedly said the marijuana and the pistol were his. He said he had no idea the pistol was stolen and that he had bought it from a co-worker for $320 in December 2025; he said his co-worker told him the gun was not stolen.

Seay has been charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a stolen firearm, purchase of a firearm by an individual under 21 years of age, maintaining a vehicle for the purpose of selling drugs, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia, and having a tag attached to his vehicle that was not assigned to the vehicle. He has no criminal history, and Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $49,000 but ordered that he could be screened for day reporting and released if accepted; she also set a curfew of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., except for work and school purposes.

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.