Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – David Charles Stillwell, 50, of Alachua, was arrested last night on drug trafficking and firearm charges after a traffic stop.

At about 10:30 p.m. on October 1, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled over a vehicle in the 7400 block of NW 39th Avenue for an expired tag. The driver, identified as Stillwell, had a suspended license, and the deputy noted that he seemed nervous.

Stillwell reportedly said there was a firearm in the center console of the vehicle but would not give consent for a search of the vehicle. A Sheriff’s Office K-9 team responded, and the K-9 gave a positive alert to the odor of narcotics, establishing probable cause to search the vehicle.

The search reportedly produced a .357 revolver in the center console, a backpack containing a 9mm handgun and a digital scale, a locked money bag (opened with a key belonging to Stillwell) containing about 18 grams of methamphetamine, another 32 grams of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine, and a metal grinder with residue that tested positive for methamphetamine.

Stillwell has been charged with possession of trafficking quantities of methamphetamine, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, maintaining a drug vehicle, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has three misdemeanor convictions (one violent). Judge Jonathan Ramsey set bail at $200,000.

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.