Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 38-year-old man named Keith Lorenzo Singleton Jr. was arrested on charges of drug trafficking and assaulting a police officer following a traffic stop due to a poorly illuminated vehicle tag.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. on December 25. Officers from the Gainesville Police Department stopped a vehicle in the 100 block of NE 9th Street because its “dimly lit amber tag light” made the tag unreadable from 50 feet away. Further, a check on the vehicle’s registration revealed that the owner had a suspended license.

As the vehicle stopped near Aloha Liquor Store, Singleton, who was in the front passenger seat, was asked to exit the vehicle along with the driver. The officer detected the scent of burnt cannabis emanating from the car. Once outside, Singleton reportedly dashed back to the vehicle, grabbed a bag from the front passenger area, and fled on foot.

An officer chased Singleton and managed to tackle him. During the struggle, Singleton allegedly head-butted the officer in the face and head. Another officer arrived to help secure Singleton in handcuffs. A subsequent search reportedly uncovered two bundles of cash, containing various denominations, totaling $2,497.

An officer and a K-9 team searched the bag Singleton had taken from the vehicle, and the search reportedly produced a baggie containing about 20.8 grams of fentanyl, multiple bags of marijuana totaling about 541.5 grams, 106 oxycodone pills weighing a total of 31.9 grams, a scale, and multiple sizes of baggies.

Singleton reportedly stated spontaneously that the bag belonged to him and the driver “had nothing to do with it.”

Post Miranda, Singleton did not want to answer any questions.

Singleton has been charged with trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in oxycodone, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, resisting an officer with violence, battery on a police officer, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has nine felony convictions (two violent) and seven misdemeanor convictions (non-violent) and has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in April 2025. Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

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.