Two teenagers were arrested by the Ocala Police Department after a rifle, handgun, and several drugs were found in their possession.
On Friday, September 16, an officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a red Nissan Altima for a stop sign violation, according to a social media post from OPD. The vehicle refused to stop and a pursuit was initiated.
A second OPD officer joined the pursuit and followed the vehicle until it crashed into a tree near the 1300 block of NW 13th Avenue. According to OPD, all three occupants proceeded to exit the vehicle, and they fled on foot.
OPD states that one of the passengers, a 17-year-old boy, exited the vehicle with a loaded 5.56 short-barreled rifle in his hand. An officer gave the teenager verbal commands to stop, but he refused to follow those commands. After the officer used a Taser, the teenager was detained in handcuffs.
The rifle did not have a serial number – this is commonly called a ‘ghost gun.’ The teenager was also in possession of a backpack that contained 102 grams of marijuana, 16 grams of marijuana edibles, 13 Xanax pills, five Oxycodone pills, and a digital scale, according to OPD.
A Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy, along with the MCSO Air 1 unit, assisted with a search for the driver and additional passenger from the vehicle.
While an OPD officer was driving in the search area, the second passenger from the vehicle was spotted. The passenger, a 14-year-old boy, had a loaded 9mm handgun concealed within his waistband.
The 14-year-old boy attempted to flee and was quickly apprehended by the officer.
The two passengers from the vehicle were both placed under arrest. The 17-year-old boy is facing multiple felony firearm and drug charges, and the 14-year-old boy is facing a single felony charge for firearm possession.
The driver of the vehicle evaded capture and was not located, according to the social media post from OPD.