Man on probation arrested, drugs and stolen gun found in his car

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Ronnell Lee Rashad, 28, was arrested Friday on charges of grand theft of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of drugs, and resisting arrest.

Rashad was pulled over near Jockey Club for driving 66 mph in a posted 50 mph zone. The officer reported that he observed marijuana in the car and then ran his license, finding that the license had been suspended and that Rashad was on probation.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s deputy reported that when he tried to detain Rashad, Rashad tensed up and then “violently resisted.” The deputy said he used a Taser three times in an attempt to subdue him. At one point, Rashad gained control of a deputy’s Taser but lost control of it before he could use it against the deputies. He was restrained in handcuffs after about 4 minutes of fighting deputies.

Once Rashad was detained, deputies searched his vehicle, reportedly finding a loaded pistol, easily accessible to Rashad, that had been reported stolen in High Springs. Cocaine, MDPV, and plastic bags were also reportedly found.

Rashad was adjudicated guilty in April 2020 on four felony and two misdemeanor charges, including several drug possession charges, a hit and run involving property damage, and a charge of fleeing police “with disregard to safety.” He was sentenced to 13 months in prison (with credit for over 200 days served), followed by 24 months of probation, ending in August 2022. A warrant was issued for his arrest in October 2021 after he failed a drug test. He was picked up that same month and agreed to a plea deal that reinstated the previous terms of his probation.

Rashad has been charged with grand theft of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug equipment, and resisting an officer with violence. He is being held on $324,000 bond.

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.