Texas man arrested with illegal drugs and an AR-15

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jacob William Daniel Cruz, 25, of Longview, Texas, was arrested last night after an officer reported that he was driving without a valid license and had illegal drugs and an AR-15 in his car.

At about 10:56 p.m. on February 11, a Gainesville Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on a car with Texas tags after the vehicle failed to stop behind the stop bar at a stop sign in the 3100 block of NE 15th Street.

The officer reported that Cruz was driving the car, another person was in the passenger seat, and an AR-15 rifle was in plain view, vertical in the center of the back seat. The officer asked Cruz for his driver’s license, and Cruz was reportedly unable to produce a license. The officer asked Cruz if he had any illegal drugs in the car, and Cruz reportedly gave the officer a THC pre-rolled marijuana joint and a THC pen; the pre-rolled joint reportedly weighed 1.5 grams without the container.

Cruz reportedly said he did not have a medical marijuana card. Based on the probable cause of the marijuana, a search of the vehicle was conducted and reportedly produced a second THC pen under the passenger seat. The officer reported that Cruz said he was the sole owner of the vehicle, and the passenger said he didn’t know the THC pen was there and it wasn’t his.

Post Miranda, Cruz reportedly said the THC pens, pre-rolled joint, and rifle were his; he said he knew he did not have a valid driver’s license because he was charged with driving under the influence in Texas.

The officer noted that possession of any THC derivative that is not the bud itself is a felony in Florida.

Cruz has been charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, and knowingly driving without a valid license. He has an unspecified criminal history in Texas between 2018 and 2024. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $64,000.

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.