Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a late-night incident on December 9, a 22-year-old man named Jayden Alexander-Lennon Moore was taken into custody after an unusual car crash led authorities on a brief search. Moore is facing several charges following his alleged involvement in a crash with a tree and his subsequent departure from the scene without notifying the police. The situation took a serious turn when officers discovered THC and a loaded handgun during their investigation.

According to the Gainesville Police Department, officers were dispatched around 9:50 p.m. to the intersection of NW 19th Street and NW 31st Avenue. There, they encountered an SUV that had collided with a tree, emitting smoke from its crumpled front end. Upon inspection of the vehicle, officers reportedly found THC concentrate visible inside the car.

Witnesses at the scene provided pivotal details that guided the police’s actions. Two individuals reported spotting a slender, light-skinned Black male exiting the crashed vehicle. They described seeing him discard several beer bottles and hand over two bags to a pair of unidentified females who quickly departed. The witnesses observed the driver fleeing west on NW 31st Avenue, leading officers to locate Moore roughly a block away from the scene.

When approached by law enforcement, Moore admitted to being the driver and confirmed he was alone in the car at the time of the accident. Further investigation revealed a loaded handgun tucked in his waistband, leading to an additional charge of possession of a concealed firearm during the commission of a felony. The discovery of THC in both the vehicle and Moore’s pocket compounded the legal challenges he now faces.

Officers detained Moore in handcuffs, and a search reportedly produced a loaded Glock 43X handgun in his waistband and a THC extract vape in his pocket.

Officers reported that Moore smelled “heavily” of alcoholic beverages, he spoke slowly and seemed confused, and his eyes were glassy. However, the arrest report does not mention field sobriety exercises, and Moore was not charged with driving while impaired.

Post Miranda, Moore reportedly refused to answer any questions.

Officers reportedly found some discarded Modelo beer bottles in the area where the witnesses said the driver had thrown them, and a Modelo beer cap was found inside the vehicle, along with an empty THC concentrate vape cartridge.

Moore has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, and possession of a concealed firearm during the commission of a felony. He has no criminal history, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $70,000 but ordered that he could be released on his own recognizance if he is accepted into the Drug Court program.

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.