Pair arrested after stolen gun and drugs found in vehicle

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jaqual Gomond Davis, 24, and Deangelo Roshmel Williams, 24, were arrested yesterday after a stolen gun and drugs were reportedly found after a traffic stop.

Davis was the front passenger and Williams, who is on pre-trial release in another felony case, was in the back seat of a car that was pulled over for speeding in the 2700 block of SW 35th Place at about 1:50 p.m. yesterday. The Gainesville Police Department Officer reported that Williams started rolling up his window as she approached, and she could smell burnt marijuana coming from the car.

A probable cause search of the car reportedly produced a backpack on the floor next to Williams containing 46.4 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, baggies, and a 16-ounce bottle of promethazine hydrochloride. A 9mm handgun that had been reported stolen in Gainesville in May 2023 was reportedly found in the cup holder next to Williams.

The search also reportedly produced a “big dog” leaf wrap package containing two MDPV pills on the floor in front of Davis, along with a baggie containing 10.5 grams of marijuana. Davis reportedly had $4,000 in cash in his pockets in multiple denominations, with another $485 in his wallet and $230 on the floor in front of him.

Post Miranda, Davis reportedly admitted that the marijuana and pills were his and identified the pills as “beans,” or molly.

Post Miranda, Williams reportedly said the backpack and gun were his, but not the pills.

Davis has been charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. Davis has juvenile criminal convictions and was arrested in 2019 for breaking the window of a car while two people, one of whom was a 4-year-old child, were inside, and injuring them with the broken glass. He pleaded to property damage and was sentenced to six months of probation. He was also arrested in 2017 for running from an officer because he had an outstanding warrant; he completed a deferred prosecution agreement in that case.

Judge Kristine Van Vorst set Davis’ bail at $20,000.

Williams has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, and possession of synthetic narcotics with intent to sell. He has 14 felony convictions (none violent) and four misdemeanor convictions (none violent). He has served two state prison sentences and was last released in March 2023.

Williams was arrested on August 11 after allegedly fleeing at high speed on Williston Road; he also allegedly had a stolen gun in the car. Judge Walter Green set bail at $130,000 ($10,000 per charge), but eight counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon were later dropped because a 1st DCA ruling prohibits charging a defendant with more than one count of possession of a weapon or ammunition at a particular moment. Williams posted bail of $50,000 and was released. Formal charges have now been filed for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, fleeing, and tampering with evidence, and the State Attorney’s Office has filed notice that they plan to seek increased penalties in the case because Williams is allegedly a “habitual felony offender and/or habitual violent felony offender.”

Judge Kristine Van Vorst set Williams’ bail at $225,000.

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.