High Springs man arrested after being stopped for speeding and then refusing to cooperate with officers

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

A 40-year-old High Springs man was arrested yesterday after being stopped for speeding and then telling officers they weren’t legally allowed to instruct him to get out of the vehicle and that he didn’t need a concealed carry permit. A handgun and marijuana were found in his truck.

At about 3:55 p.m. yesterday, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy saw a pickup truck traveling east on SW Archer Rd, traveling at a reportedly consistent speed of 53 mph in a 45 mph zone. The deputy turned on his lights and conducted a traffic stop at SW 40th Blvd and SW Archer Rd.

The deputy asked the driver to step out of the truck and walk back to the deputy’s vehicle, but the driver, 40-year-old Joshua James Benefield of High Springs, refused. Benefield allegedly told the deputy that he was not legally allowed to instruct him to get out. While waiting for additional units to arrive, the deputy reported that he ordered Benefield to step out of the vehicle several more times, but he refused.

After more deputies arrived, they also ordered him to step out multiple times, but he reportedly refused. Once enough deputies were on scene to safely approach the vehicle, they removed him from the vehicle without further incident.

While they were removing Benefield from the truck, they reportedly saw a firearm within arm’s reach of the driver and readily accessible to him. Benefield was asked if he possessed a concealed weapons permit, and he reportedly replied, “I don’t need one.” A check of permits confirmed that he does not have a concealed weapons permit.

A probably search of the vehicle found 0.5 grams of marijuana and a white pipe, along with the handgun.

Benefield has been charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of drug equipment, carrying an unlicensed concealed weapon, and resisting an officer without violence.