Pair arrested for drug possession, man claims woman is his sister but can’t remember her name

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Jadarius Juan Baker, 22, and Brittany Nicole Durden, 36, were arrested yesterday afternoon for drug possession. Baker reportedly told officers that Durden was his sister but he couldn’t remember her name; he also reportedly told officers that the pants he was wearing belonged to someone else.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy reported that he followed the defendants’ car after they pulled into the Scottish Inn (“a known high crime and drug activity area”) and left a short time later. The deputy ran the tag and found that the registered owner had an active warrant. He located the vehicle at a gas pump at the Circle K at SW 13th Street and SW Williston Road. The driver had already gone into the store, and Baker was reportedly in the passenger seat.

The deputy reported that as he approached the vehicle, he could see two hand-rolled “blunts” on the center console; Baker reportedly said they were not his. Baker reportedly said his sister had been driving the vehicle and that she was in the store, but he could not recall her name. Baker was ordered out of the car and got out; the deputy said he then attempted to detain him in handcuffs because of the suspected narcotics that were in plain view in the vehicle. Baker allegedly resisted by pulling away, and the deputy placed him on the ground, where he allegedly continued to resist but was eventually handcuffed.

The deputy searched Baker and reportedly found substances that tested positive for MDPV (bath salts); Baker reportedly spontaneously stated that the substances were not his and the pants belonged to someone else.

Durden was located inside the store by deputies and detained on the basis of the narcotics in the vehicle. Following a search of the vehicle, a purse was reportedly found containing several narcotics and Durden’s driver’s license. The substances in the purse reportedly tested positive for fentanyl and K2 (synthetic cannabis). Post Miranda, Durden did not admit that the narcotics belonged to her.

Baker was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and resisting arrest and is being held on $12,000 bail.

Durden was charged with possession of synthetic cannabinoids and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and is being held on $25,000 bail. She is currently on probation for drug possession.

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.