Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Antonio Dimitri Bryant, 28, was arrested last night and charged with fleeing, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of a firearm during a felony, possession of “molly,” and tampering with evidence.

At about 7:48 p.m. on Tuesday, a Gainesville Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on Bryant’s vehicle for a stop sign violation at 1500 NE Waldo Road. The officer reported that although Bryant had multiple opportunities to pull over in well-lit parking lots, he continued for several blocks until he arrived at his home.

When the officer approached the vehicle, Bryant reportedly said he had marijuana, and the officer reported finding 13.2 grams of marijuana in his pocket, along with $409 cash. A search of the vehicle reportedly produced a loaded black firearm with no serial number, known as a “ghost gun,” on the rear floorboard; Bryant was reportedly the only occupant of the vehicle, and the firearm was within his reach.

Post Miranda, Bryant reportedly said his co-worker had left the gun in the vehicle and said there should be a serial number on the gun. He reportedly said the marijuana belonged to him and that the money was from his job “because he is a working man.” He reportedly said he saw the officer’s lights but wanted to get the car to his house because the car belonged to his sister; he added that he knew he had a warrant for possession of marijuana with intent to sell.

After transporting Bryant to jail, the officer checked the back seat of his patrol vehicle and reportedly found a dime baggie containing a white rock-like substance on the floorboard where Bryant had been sitting. The baggie was pushed into a corner, as if Bryant had been trying to hide it. The officer reported that he’d heard Bryant moving around in the back seat and heard kicking noises against the cage of the patrol vehicle on the way to the jail. The substance reportedly tested positive for MDMA and weighed 2.8 grams.

The officer went into the jail and read Bryant his Miranda rights again. Bryant reportedly said the substance was ecstasy and that a friend from work had given it to him to try. When the officer asked whether the substance would test positive for “molly” (MDMA), Bryant reportedly said it “should be MDMA.” Bryant reportedly admitted trying to hide the baggie.

Bryant has one felony conviction (non-violent) and one misdemeanor conviction (non-violent). He was on pre-trial release following a 2020 arrest for possession of marijuana with intent to sell; he was released on $25,000 bail, and a warrant for his arrest was issued in November 2021 when he failed to appear at a hearing. More than a year later, his attorney filed a request for a change of plea hearing, and another warrant was issued when Bryant failed to appear at that hearing in December 2022. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $100,000 on the 2020 charge and added $126,000 bail on the new charges.

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.