Newberry woman arrested for drug possession, vehicle theft

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Stacie Galloway Fowler, 38, of Newberry was arrested late last night on charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle, two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, and possession of drug equipment.

On November 21, deputies received a report that a man had been threatened with a firearm in the 900 block of SW 266th Street in Newberry. The man who called law enforcement said he had gone to the residence Fowler shared with her roommate “for the purpose of smoking marijuana and talking,” and after smoking a marijuana cigarette, the roommate displayed a handgun and fired two rounds on the property.

When deputies arrived, they reportedly found two shell casings and also saw a U-Haul tow dolly at the rear of the property, which they determined had been stolen from Columbia County on August 17. They also swept the residence to make sure the roommate wasn’t inside, and they saw several firearms in plain view, including the handgun described by the victim. Fowler’s roommate is a convicted felon who is not legally allowed to possess firearms or ammunition.

They also saw drugs and drug paraphernalia in plain view in Fowler’s bedroom. Fowler is currently on probation for convictions on three counts of sale/manufacturing/delivery of methamphetamine (2 felonies, 1 misdemeanor, both in 2021) in Columbia County, so a search warrant was obtained for the residence.

While executing the search warrant, deputies reportedly found approximately 6 grams of methamphetamine, 20 pills of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (Concerta), a Schedule 2 controlled substance, and a pipe used to smoke narcotics. The arrest report said that Fowler does not have a known prescription for the pills.

Post Miranda, Fowler stated that she purchased the tow dolly from someone named “Joey” in High Springs in August of 2021. She claimed to have a Bill of Sale but was unable to produce it. When asked about the drugs and paraphernalia, she invoked her right to counsel and declined to answer further questions.

Fowler remains in the Alachua County Jail; the recommended bail is $100,000 on each charge, for a total of $400,000.