Man arrested outside Publix on cocaine distribution charges

Robert Lavell Green, 39, was arrested yesterday evening on charges of cocaine possession with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, and tampering with evidence.

The incident began around 9:15 p.m. when an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy observed a car idling in a fire lane outside the Publix at 1200 NW 76th Blvd (Newberry Square). The deputy made contact with the owner of the car, Robert Green, and he said he had parked to shop inside the store. Green offered to go to the car and get his identification.

The deputy saw a clear baggie containing six smaller baggies, with a white substance in each bag, in the center console. While Green was supposed to be retrieving his driver’s license, the deputy reported that he saw Green moving around inside the car, and then he saw that the baggies had disappeared. The deputy detained Green because he believed Green had just attempted to conceal the baggies.

A probable-cause search of Green revealed that the bag containing the six smaller baggies was hidden in his underwear. The substance inside the baggies field tested positive for cocaine and weighed 2.5 grams, including the weight of the bags. Green reportedly said that the substance could be “molly” or “MDMA.”

During the search of Green’s car, two clear mason jars containing a green leafy substance were found, along with a small black scale.

Based on the possession of the scale and the use of baggies to separate the cocaine into smaller amounts, Green was charged with possession of cocaine with the intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, and tampering with evidence. Green has 10 felony drug adjudications, with the most recent in 2009, and five misdemeanor adjudications, with the most recent in 2015. Bond on the charges was set at $40,000.