Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Christian Michael Brown, 18, was arrested late last night after officers reportedly found marijuana, MDMA pills, and a handgun in his backpack.

Brown was reportedly the back seat passenger in a car that was pulled over by a Gainesville Police Department officer at about 11:46 p.m. on December 12 in the 200 block of SE 11th Street because the car was traveling at a high rate of speed and the registered owner’s license is suspended.

The officer reported that he immediately smelled marijuana when he approached the car, and the occupants were asked to get out of the car.

A search of the vehicle reportedly produced a backpack in the back seat containing a 9mm handgun, 10 pills that tested positive for MDMA, 31 grams of marijuana, and a scale.

Post Miranda, Brown reportedly said the car was small and the backpack “was just in the back seat” and was not his. However, the officer noted that Brown’s phone was found inside the backpack and the wallpaper on the phone is a picture of Brown with a backpack on his back that appears to be the one found in the car.

A shell casing was also reportedly found in the car and collected as evidence.

Brown has been charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a controlled substance, and illegal possession of a concealed firearm. He has a juvenile conviction for grand theft of a firearm. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $70,000.

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.