Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Charles Joseph Washington, 68, was arrested yesterday and charged with two counts of selling drugs within 1000 feet of a park and maintaining a vehicle for the purpose of selling drugs. He is on probation for drug possession after he was arrested for selling drugs and entered a plea of nolo contendere to two counts of drug possession.

A Gainesville Police Department officer who was patrolling the area of 404 S. Main Street in response to citizen complaints about drugs reportedly saw Washington conducting hand-to-hand transactions from his car. The officer pulled over the car and detained Washington, who reportedly denied having anything illegal on his person or in the car.

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Based on the probable cause of having seen Washington conducting hand-to-hand transactions, the officer searched the car and reportedly found a bag containing 48 baggies (a total of 134.2 grams) of a leafy green substance that tested positive for a synthetic cannabinoid known as “tunchi.” The officer also reportedly found two Oxycodone pills. Washington was reportedly within 400 feet of Lynch Park.

Washington has 13 felony convictions (two violent) and 13 misdemeanor convictions (one violent). He has served six state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2009. Judge Thomas Jaworski set bail at $35,000.

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.