Two Lake City men arrested at The Crossings at Santa Fe after resisting deputies

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – James Colton Case Stamper, 19, and Thomas Lee Williams, 20, both of Lake City, were arrested early this morning at The Crossings at Santa Fe after resisting deputies who made contact with them while enforcing a prohibition on loitering at the apartment complex.

The deputies were on foot patrol in the apartment complex to enforce the management’s policy of no loitering after 10 p.m. when a deputy approached a vehicle parked on the west side of Building 8; three men were in or around the vehicle.

The deputies reported that as they approached, a man later identified as Williams leaned into the driver’s window and slapped something out of the hands of the man in the driver’s seat, later identified as Stamper. Both deputies reported smelling marijuana as they approached the car, and Stamper was reportedly holding a marijuana “blunt.” One deputy instructed Stamper to get out of the car several times, and he allegedly refused to get out. The deputy reported that Stamper kept shuffling his feet as if he were attempting to kick something under the seat. Stamper also reportedly dropped the “blunt.”

After finally getting out of the car, Stamper allegedly fled on foot and was detained after a lengthy foot pursuit. A search of his person reportedly produced $1,060 in $20 denominations.

A search of the vehicle reportedly produced 18.6 grams of marijuana, a pistol with 10 rounds in the magazine, and an AR-15-style pistol. Both firearms were concealed from view from outside the car but were readily accessible to Stamper.

A deputy tried to detain Williams after the items were found in the car, and Williams allegedly physically resisted by pulling away and was Tased.

Post Miranda, Stamper reportedly said he and his friend had traveled from Lake City to The Crossings to find female companionship. He said he borrowed the car, and the deputy confirmed that it was registered to a woman in Lake City. Stamper reportedly said that when deputies approached, his friend told him to put out the blunt and added that the blunt was the only illegal item he had in the car. He said he had no knowledge of the marijuana or the guns.

Stamper has been charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, two counts of possession of a concealed firearm without a permit, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and resisting arrest without violence. He is on pre-trial release in Columbia County for possession of alcohol by a person under 21 and reckless driving. Judge Walter Green set bail at $60,000.

Williams has been charged with tampering with evidence and resisting arrest without violence. He has a juvenile criminal history. Judge Green set bail at $10,000.

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.