Palatka man arrested for vehicle burglary and firearm possession

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Lil’Terrance Jerome Tobler, 18, of Palatka, was arrested last night for armed burglary of a vehicle at The Polos, tampering with evidence, and possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent; sworn complaints were also filed against several juveniles.

At about 9:09 p.m. on November 23, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to The Polos (2330 SW Williston Road) after a caller reported 4-7 males walking around with guns; the caller said the males were going to shoot someone.

Officers came in both entrances to the complex and detained several juveniles and Tobler near a vehicle; Tobler was reportedly wearing a Glock holster and said the vehicle belonged to his “auntie.” The vehicle was reportedly unlocked, and a Smith & Wesson pistol could be seen in plain view on the front passenger seat; the owner of the vehicle gave consent to search the vehicle, and a Glock pistol was found on the front passenger side floorboard. The owner of the vehicle reportedly said the firearms were not hers and should not be in her vehicle, and she said she did not give Tobler permission to enter her vehicle.

The Smith & Wesson pistol was previously reported as lost in Putnam County.

Post Miranda, Tobler reportedly said he had found the holster on the ground earlier in the day when he was riding his bicycle, so he picked it up and was using it for his phone. He denied ever having possession of the firearms; he said he was inside an apartment when police arrived and came outside when someone told him officers were looking for people. However, he was reportedly already outside when the officers arrived, and he could not say who told him about the police.

Tobler reportedly gave consent for a search of his phone to find exculpatory evidence, and officers reported that there were about a dozen photos of Tobler holding a Glock pistol since Wednesday. Tobler reportedly admitted to holding a Glock pistol and said it was a real firearm. Because he was adjudicated guilty as a juvenile for carrying a concealed weapon as a minor, he is prohibited from possessing firearms until he is 24.

The officer reported that Tobler committed armed burglary when he entered the vehicle with a firearm to hide the firearm from officers. Officers suspect that the two pistols were used in another burglary on the morning of November 23 in which a bolt-action rifle was stolen; that rifle was found in the wood line near where Tobler was arrested.

Tobler has been charged with armed burglary of a vehicle, possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent, and tampering with evidence. He has a juvenile conviction and an adult misdemeanor conviction; Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $85,000.

Sworn complaints were issued to several juveniles who were detained with Tobler.

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.