An Ocala man and woman were arrested Tuesday morning after a stolen gun and ammunition were found in their vehicle during a traffic stop.
Tianna Marie Novak, 25, of 1720 NW 38th Ave., was charged with grand theft of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon without a license, and using or displaying a firearm while committing a felony. Edward Artez Colson, 36, of 811 NW 23rd Ave., was charged with possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted Florida felon and driving with a suspended license (habitual offender).
Colson was behind the wheel and Novak was a passenger when they were pulled over at the 15500 block of South Highway 25 in Weirsdale because Colson was not wearing a seatbelt. Colson told the deputy his license was suspended and that he was a habitual traffic offender. The deputy asked him to step out of the vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office report.
A sheriff’s office K9 unit responded to the scene and “Adelmo” conducted an open-air sniff. The deputy found ammunition in the open compartment in the driver’s side door. A records search confirmed Colson is a convicted felon, which makes it illegal for him to possess a weapon or ammunition, the report said.
Inside Novak’s black handbag, which was in her lap, was a loaded Ruger LC9 handgun that had been reported stolen out of Marion County. Novak was also found not to have a valid concealed weapons permit, according to the report.
After being read her Miranda rights, Novak said she was cleaning her residence earlier in the morning and found the firearm. She said she knew it belonged to Colson’s brother, who she only knows as “Rob or Robbie.” Novak said she was taking the firearm to her place of work so “Rob could come and pick it up, the report said.
Colson was allowed to call his mother on his personal cell phone to notify her of his arrest and make arrangements for someone to pick up his child from day car. During the conversation, Colson said to his mother, “Tianna got caught with her gun,” implying the gun belonged to Novak, according to the report.
Marion County Jail records show Colson has been arrested 17 times since 2002 on charges including drug possession, battery, stalking, burglary, criminal mischief, fleeing a law-enforcement officer and numerous instances of driving with a suspended license. Colson is being held on $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Marion County Court on Aug. 4.
Novak was released later Tuesday on $6,000 bond. No court information was available.