Two convicted felons were arrested after an Ocala Police Department officer found packaged drugs and a loaded firearm inside their vehicle during a traffic stop.
On Monday, February 14 at around 6:35 p.m., the OPD officer observed a 2017 Dodge Charger make an improper lane change in the 2200 block of NW Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, and a traffic stop was conducted near the 3000 block.
The vehicle’s two occupants were identified as 19-year-old Ocala resident Jaheim Fayon Williams (driver) and 18-year-old Summerfield resident Jy’nari Dashae Braddock (passenger).
When the officer requested a copy of the vehicle’s registration and insurance, Williams stated that he did not have that paperwork and he would need to contact a relative to send him a copy of the insurance card.
Another OPD officer with a K-9 partner arrived on scene and an open-air sniff test was conducted around the vehicle. The K-9 partner detected the presence of drugs, and Williams and Braddock were both removed from the vehicle so it could be searched.
According to the OPD report, a 9mm handgun was located underneath the passenger’s seat. The handgun was loaded with one round in the chamber and three rounds in the magazine. An extended magazine loaded with 13 rounds was wrapped inside a pair of shorts inside the vehicle’s trunk.
A black shoulder bag was found underneath the driver’s seat. Inside the bag, the officer observed a portable scale and a dew rag. When the officer opened the rag, four individually packaged bags were found which contained a white rock-like substance with white powder on it.
The white rock-like substance later field-tested positive for MDMA and the white powder field-tested positive for cocaine.
The vehicle’s registration and insurance cards were located inside the glove compartment.
A criminal background search on Williams and Braddock revealed that both men had prior felony convictions.
During an interview with an OPD detective, Williams denied ownership of the drugs, handgun, and ammunition. While speaking with the detective, Williams complained of breathing complications and was transported to AdventHealth Ocala where he was medically cleared.
In a separate interview, Braddock told the detective that the handgun belonged to him. He confirmed that it was loaded with three rounds. He also stated that he was unsure if the handgun was stolen or not, and he claimed to have purchased it off the streets.
Williams was arrested, transported to Marion County Jail, and he was later released on $21,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for possession of cocaine and MDMA with intent to distribute and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. A court date has not been scheduled yet for Williams, according to jail records.
Braddock was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $20,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for possession of a weapon and ammunition by a convicted felon. A court date has been scheduled on Tuesday, March 22 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.