Newberry man arrested for shoplifting and firearm possession

Staff report

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Kobe Deon Delima, 23, was arrested yesterday after allegedly fleeing from deputies who were investigating a report of shoplifting and noticed a possible firearm in his pants.

At about 11:29 a.m. on March 13, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to Family Dollar (24240 W. Newberry Road), where an employee said a man who had previously stolen from the store had just walked out with stolen merchandise; she said he had an “OG” tattoo on his neck.

The deputy found a black male walking westbound along NW 5th Avenue, and another deputy told him that Delima, a convicted felon, frequently carries a firearm. As the deputy drove past the man, he saw that the man had an “OG” tattoo on his neck, and he recognized Delima from previous interactions. Delima reportedly stopped and stared at the patrol vehicle, and when the deputy stopped his vehicle and got out, Delima started walking toward the deputy.

The deputy reported that there was a large bulge in the front of Delima’s pants, and he had one hand inside his waistband. The deputy asked Delima what he had in his pants, and Delima allegedly began walking away.

The deputy pursued Delima on foot as he ran through a retention pond toward the Oak Park neighborhood; when Delima was apprehended, the bulge was no longer there.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced several pairs of socks, including a white ankle sock, some loose change, and a small baggie containing marijuana.

After Delima was secured in a patrol vehicle, the deputy noticed a white ankle sock near where Delima was apprehended, and the sock appeared to be brand-new. While searching the area, a deputy looked over a fence into the back yard of a home and saw more socks and a handgun in the yard. After obtaining the consent of the property owner, the items were collected. The firearm reportedly had nine hollow-point rounds in the magazine.

The stolen merchandise was reportedly valued at $19.35.

Post Miranda, Delima reportedly did not want to say anything.

Delima has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, tampering with evidence, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, resisting an officer without violence, and petit theft. He has three felony convictions (one violent) and three misdemeanor convictions (one violent), and Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $154,000.

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.