Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In the early hours of today, 20-year-old Adasian Chiziere Armstrong was taken into custody following a traffic stop that led to the discovery of an AR-style pistol and 21 rounds of ammunition in his backpack. As a convicted felon, Armstrong is prohibited from possessing any firearms.

The incident unfolded around 1:51 a.m. on December 3, when an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy noticed Armstrong riding a scooter along SW 20th Avenue, his face obscured by a full face mask. Due to the late hour and Armstrong’s concealed identity, the deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop to investigate potential illegal activity. Armstrong, however, allegedly ignored the deputy’s signals to stop. When the deputy maneuvered in front of him, Armstrong reportedly abandoned the scooter and fled on foot.

Attempting to subdue him, the deputy deployed a taser, which Armstrong reportedly resisted by grabbing and pushing the officer. Despite the ineffective taser, additional deputies arrived on the scene. Armstrong was ultimately subdued with the aid of pepper spray, although he allegedly continued to resist by kicking the officers even after a second taser deployment.

Upon conducting a search incident to arrest, authorities reportedly found an AR-style pistol in Armstrong’s backpack, loaded with 21 bullets in an extended magazine.

Armstrong has been charged with 22 counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, resisting an officer with violence, fleeing with lights and sirens active, unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm, and wearing a mask on a public street. He has two felony convictions (non-violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent) and is on probation for drug possession and fleeing from law enforcement. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $425,000, with a requirement for a GPS monitor and a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

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.