Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Terrence Darby Byrd, Sr., 35, was arrested last night on a warrant from a January traffic stop that allegedly produced a trafficking quantity of fentanyl, over 140 grams of marijuana, and a firearm.

At about 11:25 p.m. on January 12, a Gainesville Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop in the 300 block of NE 15th Street because the vehicle allegedly ran a stop sign. Byrd was reportedly the registered owner and the only occupant of the vehicle.

The officer reported that he could smell marijuana from the interior of the vehicle, and when he asked Byrd if there was marijuana in the vehicle, Byrd reportedly said there was some in the center console and that he did not have a medical marijuana card. When the officer asked whether there were any weapons in the vehicle, Byrd reportedly said he had a gun on him, and the officer reportedly found a 9mm pistol inside Byrd’s waistband.

A probable cause search of Byrd’s vehicle reportedly produced several containers of marijuana that weighed a total of 140.6 grams, hand-pressed pills weighing a total of 16.4 grams, about 100 plastic baggies, and a digital scale. The pills reportedly tested positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl; the officer noted that the amount of fentanyl was four times the trafficking amount.

Post Miranda, Byrd reportedly said the vehicle was his and that he uses it for narcotics sales; he also said he lends the vehicle out to get narcotics. He reportedly said the gun was his and that he bought it from a friend in the streets. He reportedly said the marijuana was his and that he sells it to make extra money. He initially said he didn’t know anything about the pills, but he later reportedly told the officer that there might be “beans” in the vehicle; the officer noted that this is a common street name for Ecstasy.

Byrd has been charged with possession of trafficking quantities of fentanyl, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, and maintaining a vehicle for the purpose of selling drugs.

Byrd has one misdemeanor conviction (non-violent). Judge Kristine Van Vorst ordered him held without bail on the fentanyl charge, pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; Judge Van Vorst set bail at $150,000 on the other charges.

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.