Man charged with selling marijuana after running from officer

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jarquis Eugene Davis, 24, was arrested yesterday and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting an officer after allegedly running from an officer who pulled him over for a window tint violation.

A Gainesville Police Department officer initiated a traffic stop on Davis’ car at about 2:38 p.m. yesterday in the 2200 block of NE 8th Avenue for a window tint violation; the officer reported that the car quickly turned onto NE 22nd Street and pulled into a driveway, where Davis got out and walked toward the residence.

The officer reported that he ordered Davis to stop, but Davis reached to open the front door; the officer detained Davis in handcuffs and had to physically pull him away from the door while Davis allegedly pulled his arm away.

The officer reported that he could smell marijuana when he was near Davis, and Davis reportedly said he had just smoked. A search of Davis reportedly produced $4,954 in cash in his pocket.

A search of Davis’ car reportedly produced a backpack containing a baggie with 1.3 grams of marijuana, a mason jar containing 104.4 grams of marijuana, a mason jar containing 15.9 grams of marijuana, a box of sandwich baggies, some “dime” baggies, and a scale.

Post Miranda, Davis reportedly said he just got paid and went shopping at the mall; the officer reported that the backpack was next to several shopping bags.

The officer noted that the combination of marijuana, baggies, scale, and cash is consistent with narcotics sales and wrote, “I believe [Davis] is utilizing all of the U.S. currency located in his possession for the purpose of supplying himself with narcotics to help fund his criminal organization.”

Davis has two misdemeanor convictions (none violent). He was given a Notice to Appear in 2019 after an officer who pulled him over for running a stop sign found about a gram of marijuana in his car. He later entered a plea of nolo contendere to driving without a valid license and possession of drug paraphernalia; the marijuana possession charge was not prosecuted. Adjudication of guilt was withheld on the charges, and he was sentenced to one year of probation with the possibility of completing probation in six months if he completed all the requirements. However, three months later, he failed a drug test and then failed to participate in the prescribed treatment; he also failed to provide proof of employment or proof of obtaining a valid driver’s license and failed to pay the costs of supervision and the fines and fees assigned by the judge.

He was re-arrested and held for 19 days before Judge Walter Green terminated his probation as unsuccessful and sentenced him to 19 days in jail with credit for 19 days served. Judge Green also adjudicated him guilty on both counts but later withheld adjudication of guilt after a request from Davis’ attorney.

Bail information is unavailable on weekends.

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.