Pair arrested on drug charges after a K-9 and deputies forcibly removed them from their car

Staff report

Updated on August 25 with Oswald’s bail information.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Elijah McKenna Eyerly, 29, and Paulina Sophia Oswald, 27, were arrested last night on drug charges after allegedly refusing to get out of their car; after deputies broke a window to access a door lock, Oswald was reportedly removed by a K-9 team, and Eyerly was physically removed from the car by deputies after allegedly kicking the K-9.

At about 9:46 p.m. on August 23, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a car in the 5100 block of SW 13th Street for having an inoperable headlight. After the car pulled over, the deputy made several announcements, ordering the pair to get out of the car, but he reported that he received no response from either the driver, Oswald, or the front seat passenger, Eyerly.

The deputy eventually walked up to the passenger side of the car to speak to the occupants, and he reported that Eyerly became argumentative and said he would not get out of the car. The deputy reported that he then walked to the driver’s side of the car, where Oswald reportedly said she would not get out of the car.

After “numerous” commands to get out of the car were ignored, the deputy told them they were under arrest, but they still allegedly refused to get out of the car.

A second deputy responded to the location, and after more ignored commands to get out of the car, the back driver’s side window of the car was broken to gain access to the lock on the driver’s door. After the driver’s door was opened, more commands were given to the pair, but they both still allegedly refused to get out of the car.

Deputies started removing Oswald from the car, and she reportedly moved over to sit in Eyerly’s lap.

The deputies reportedly gave “many more commands” before releasing a K-9 to apprehend Oswald. During the apprehension, Eyerly reportedly kicked the K-9 multiple times in the head and was immediately removed from the passenger side of the car by force, placed on the ground, and handcuffed.

An inventory search of the vehicle reportedly produced a container of about 0.1 grams of methamphetamine, several small baggies containing a white powdery residue in Oswald’s book bag, and a baggie containing about 9 grams of cocaine and empty baggies under Eyerly’s seat.

Post Miranda, both defendants reportedly declined to speak with the deputies.

Eyerly has been charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a mosque, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, battery on a police K-9, and resisting an officer without violence. He has no local criminal history. Judge Gloria Walker set bail at $65,000.

Oswald has been charged with methamphetamine possession, cocaine possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a vehicle for the purpose of selling drugs, and resisting an officer without violence. She has no criminal history, and Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $42,000 but ordered that she can be released on her own recognizance if she is accepted into the Drug Court program.

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.