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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ocala felon arrested during traffic stop after officer finds loaded revolver

A 25-year-old convicted felon was arrested by the Ocala Police Department after a firearm was found inside his vehicle during a traffic stop.

On Sunday, January 8, shortly after 4:30 a.m., an OPD officer received an alert that a white BMW with an expired tag was traveling eastbound on W State Road 40. According to OPD, the registered owner of the vehicle, identified as Willis Natron Lubin, had a suspended driver’s license.

Willis Natron Lubin
Willis Natron Lubin

The officer located the BMW as it pulled into the parking lot of the Shell gas station located at 1517 SW 10th Street. After the officer activated the patrol car’s lights to initiate a traffic stop, the OPD report stated that the BMW’s male driver exited the vehicle.

The officer made contact with the man and he refused to identify himself. According to OPD, the man was detained, and the officer located his identification card in his wallet, which confirmed that he was Lubin.

After confirming Lubin’s identity, the officer contacted OPD dispatch and discovered that Lubin’s driver’s license was suspended as of November 23, 2021.

The officer conducted a search of Lubin’s vehicle and located a Ruger .38 revolver underneath the driver’s seat. A check of his criminal history revealed two prior felony convictions for robbery with a firearm and attempted robbery with a firearm, and he also had an active warrant out of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

Lubin was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $13,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, along with a misdemeanor charge for driving with a suspended license.

A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, February 7, according to jail records.