18-Year-Old Hawthorne Man Arrested on Drug and Firearm Charges
Latrelvious Jahmar Strickland, an 18-year-old resident of Hawthorne, Florida, was arrested on August 27 and charged with four felonies following a traffic stop where deputies reportedly discovered over 60 grams of marijuana and an altered firearm, according to local law enforcement records.
The incident unfolded at approximately 3:05 p.m. when an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled over a vehicle at 6900 SE U.S. Hwy 301, according to the Internewscast Journal. Law enforcement reported that Strickland failed to stop behind a designated stop sign or stop line and swung too wide on the turn while other vehicles occupied the busy highway.
Traffic Stop Triggers Probable-Cause Search in Hawthorne
Upon initiating the stop, the deputy discovered that Strickland was operating the vehicle with only a learner’s permit, which he did not have in his physical possession, according to the Internewscast Journal. Because the sole passenger in the vehicle was a 16-year-old juvenile, deputies determined the driver was violating learner permit restrictions. The responding deputy noted that Strickland appeared extremely nervous and detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana emanating from both the driver and the interior of the automobile.
When questioned by law enforcement, Strickland stated that he had smoked marijuana approximately an hour prior to driving, but claimed he lacked a medical marijuana card and possessed no drugs. Meanwhile, the juvenile passenger stated he had not smoked and had just been picked up from school, according to law enforcement records.
Based on the explicit odor of marijuana, deputies executed a probable-cause search of the vehicle. According to the Internewscast Journal, the search yielded a handgun with an obliterated serial number, a realistic-looking AR-15-style air rifle lacking an orange tip, approximately 3.6 grams of tobacco mixed with marijuana, a large bag containing roughly 55.1 grams of marijuana, and a digital scale.
As deputies escorted the juvenile passenger toward a patrol vehicle, a small bag containing approximately 6.1 grams of marijuana dropped from his pants. Post-Miranda, the juvenile stated that nothing in the vehicle belonged to him aside from his backpack filled with school supplies. He told deputies he believed the air rifle belonged to Strickland’s sister, that the large bag of marijuana belonged to Strickland, and that Strickland had instructed him to conceal the loose smaller bag of marijuana during the stop out of fear.
Felony Charges and Legal Proceedings in Alachua County
Strickland faces multiple serious charges filed by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. According to court records and arrest reports detailed by the Internewscast Journal, the charges include possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a convenience store—specifically a local Chevron gas station—possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana.
Additional counts filed against Strickland include tampering with evidence, possession of an altered firearm, possession of drug equipment, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. While Strickland’s full adult criminal history remains unavailable due to statutory protections regarding cases involving juveniles, records indicate he has no prior local adult criminal history.
During subsequent questioning post-Miranda, Strickland admitted to driving in violation of his learner’s permit restrictions and acknowledged he would face charges for the items recovered from the vehicle. However, he denied any knowledge or ownership of the large bag of marijuana, the digital scale, and the handgun. He explicitly denied selling narcotics or directing the juvenile passenger to conceal drugs.
Conflicting accounts emerged at the scene regarding the vehicle itself. Strickland initially told deputies it was his first time driving the automobile, which belonged to a friend’s mother. However, a relative arriving at the scene told law enforcement it was Strickland’s everyday vehicle. When confronted with the contradiction, Strickland stated he misunderstood the question and meant it was merely the first time he had driven that specific day, acknowledging he drove the vehicle regularly.
Judge Meshon Rawls set Strickland’s bail at $165,000. As judicial proceedings advance in Alachua County, law enforcement emphasizes that all charges listed in arrest reports and court documents are merely accusations, and suspects remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.