Stolen gun found during traffic stop, along with marijuana and marijuana-infused edibles

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Yarnell Ezekiel McCray, 18, and Elijah Aaron Williams, 19, were arrested yesterday following a traffic stop on SE Hawthorne Road. A gun that was stolen a month ago was found in the car, along with approximately 22 grams of loose marijuana and about 46 grams of marijuana-infused edibles.

According to the arrest reports for the two men, Williams was allegedly driving a car that crossed over to the opposite side of the road–driving east in the westbound lanes–to go around a patrol car that was blocking eastbound traffic on SW Williston Road because of a crash. At the next break in the median, the car crossed back over to the eastbound lanes. An Alachua County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop and identified Williams as the driver and McCray as the passenger. He reported that there was a plain smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and leafy green residue was in plain view.

The deputy searched the car, finding a Walther .380 handgun under the driver’s seat that had been reported stolen on March 25 from a car parked at Reflections Apartments.

The gun was loaded with six rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. The deputy also reported finding a plastic bag with 18.6 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, a hand-rolled marijuana cigarette that weighed about 4 grams, and 18 more rounds of ammunition for the gun. A gray backpack was reportedly found on the passenger-side floorboard with 46.5 grams of marijuana-infused edibles in a sealed package with a label clearly stating that they were infused with marijuana.

Both men are under the age of 21 and thus legally unable to have medical marijuana cards, purchase handgun ammunition, or have a concealed weapons license.

Post Miranda, Williams reportedly admitted to possession of the loose marijuana, the scale, and the handgun. He said he had been given the gun as a gift from someone he called “John Doe” about 2 months ago and that he’d had the gun in his possession since receiving it. He also reportedly admitted to purchasing the ammunition from an online website. A deputy reportedly confronted Williams on the fact that the gun had only been stolen a month ago, so he could not have had it for two months, but he wrote that Williams did not change his story.

Post Miranda, McCray reportedly admitted to possession of the marijuana-infused edibles but initially said he had no knowledge of the gun; he later changed his statement and said he’d known about the gun since April 23, when he saw it in Williams’ vehicle.

Williams has been charged with grand theft of a firearm and burglary of an unoccupied vehicle, during which he became armed; he has also been charged with carrying a concealed firearm without a license, possessing a weapon during the commission of a felony, 2 counts of possessing more than 20 grams of marijuana, and possession of drug equipment. He is being held on $192,000 bail with a requirement for a GPS monitor upon release.

McCray has been charged with 2 counts of possessing more than 20 grams of marijuana. He has been released on his own recognizance with a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and a requirement to possess no drugs, alcohol, or firearms.

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.