GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Eric Jermaine Drummond Jr., 18, was arrested last night on charges of unlawfully possessing two firearms and unlawfully concealing a firearm.
At approximately 8:29 p.m. on November 11, an Alachua County Sheriff’s deputy stopped an SUV after reportedly observing the vehicle fail to make a complete stop while leaving Forest View Apartments at 1000 SW 62nd Boulevard. The driver was also allegedly not wearing a seat belt.
Drummond, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was asked to exit the SUV along with the other occupants.
Deputies said they detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and its occupants. They also reported seeing marijuana shake on the driver’s-side floorboard and loose marijuana bud on an empty child seat in the rear, establishing probable cause to search the SUV.
During the search, deputies reportedly found a Glock 17 in the center console and a Remington RP9 beneath Drummond’s seat.
After being read his Miranda rights, Drummond initially told deputies he knew nothing about the firearms. He later reportedly acknowledged that he knew the guns were present, had held them several times and had taken a photograph with both firearms approximately two days earlier.
Drummond was previously adjudicated delinquent in a juvenile grand theft of a motor vehicle case. As a result, he is prohibited from possessing or concealing firearms.
Drummond faces two counts of possessing a firearm as an adjudicated delinquent and one count of unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm. Justice Support Services said Drummond attends Hawthorne High School, has juvenile convictions dating from 2023 through 2026 and is currently on juvenile probation. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $140,000.