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Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Phillip Darrell Stotler, II, 29, of Lee, Florida, was arrested yesterday for allegedly pointing a gun at a couple while driving on NW 39th Avenue in Gainesville.
At about 3 p.m. yesterday, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a 911 call about a man pointing a handgun at a couple in a car driving westbound near the 8900 block of NW 39th Avenue.
Deputies pulled Stotler’s car over near the 381 mile marker on southbound I-75 and detained him for further investigation.
The victims told a deputy that Stotler had been driving erratically, and as he passed them, Stotler showed them his middle finger. The driver in the victims’ car said he returned the middle finger, at which point Stotler slowed down and drove alongside the victims. Stotler allegedly picked up a revolver, rolled down his passenger-side window, and pointed the gun at the victims. The victims said they slowed down and followed at a distance while contacting law enforcement.
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Deputies reported that when they approached Stotler’s vehicle, they saw a rifle, rifle magazine, and ammunition in plain view. Deputies consulted with the State Attorney’s office, which reportedly agreed that these items, along with the alleged crime, gave probable cause to search the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle reportedly produced a revolver under a pillow on the driver’s side floorboard and a metal container with about 40 grams of marijuana.
Post Miranda, Stotler reportedly declined to answer questions.
Stotler has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana. He has no local criminal history, but his full criminal history is unavailable because First Appearance documents are not posted on weekends. Stotler is being held on $60,000 bail.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
