An 18-year-old Ocala man was arrested on a felony charge after deputies reportedly discovered a loaded handgun inside a truck he was driving in the Forest High School student parking lot.
On Tuesday, May 19, Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Forest High School (5000 SE Maricamp Road) in reference to a vehicle “doing burnouts” in the parking lot, according to the report.
Upon arrival at the student parking lot, the deputies made contact with a man, identified as Tanner James Dickey, who had allegedly been doing a burnout in a white GMC truck.
A deputy reportedly observed Dickey reaching under the driver’s seat. After Dickey was asked to exit the vehicle, the deputy spotted two loaded firearm magazines on the driver’s side floorboard near the front center console, according to the report.
While searching under the driver’s seat, the deputy allegedly located a 9mm handgun inside a holster. The firearm reportedly contained a loaded magazine with one round in the chamber.
Dickey was read his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with law enforcement, claiming he was unaware the firearm was under the seat. He stated that he had borrowed the truck from a family friend the previous evening, according to the report.
During the post-Miranda interview, Dickey claimed that he had been reaching down to conceal a tobacco canister, though the report mentioned that no such canister was found on the floorboard during the vehicle search.
Dickey also allegedly claimed that prior to borrowing the truck, he had asked if any firearms were in the vehicle, and the truck’s owner had responded by saying “no.”
However, the truck’s owner reportedly arrived at the school and told investigators that he is a concealed carry permit holder who regularly transports firearms in the vehicle. The owner told law enforcement that he kept the firearm in the center console area, and he alleged that Dickey never asked him about firearms being in the truck, according to the report.
Dickey was placed under arrest and booked into Marion County Jail. He was released the following day after posting bond, and he is being charged with possession of a firearm on school property.
Jail records show that Dickey is scheduled to appear in a Marion County courtroom at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23.