Staff report

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – David Brotherton Cunningham, 39, and Nicholas Dean Kirkland, 44, were arrested late last night for night hunting and drug possession; Cunningham was also charged with possession of firearms during the commission of a felony.

At about 10:47 p.m. on October 4, a Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officer was patrolling on County Road 325 and saw a pickup truck shining a bright white light into the woodline on both sides of the road “in a manner that would be capable of disclosing the presence of deer.”

The officer noticed that the truck was pulling a trailer without working rear lights, and he conducted a traffic stop.

The occupants of the truck told the officer there were firearms in the truck, so he asked Kirkland, the passenger, to get out, patted him down, and detained him; he then asked Cunningham to get out of the vehicle and patted him down.

After an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived as backup, the officer reportedly found an AR-15 pistol, two AR-15-style rifles, and three 9mm handguns, along with a loaded AR-15 magazine and miscellaneous ammunition and magazines in a box. The search also reportedly produced a spotlight and a bag containing a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.

Kirkland reportedly admitted shining the spotlight into the woods and “bragged” about how bright it was. Post Miranda, he reportedly admitted to shining the light and said he knew there were firearms in the truck.

A search of Kirkland, incident to arrest, reportedly produced a small baggie of cocaine.

While Cunningham was being booked into the jail, cocaine was reportedly found in his wallet.

Cunningham has been charged with night hunting, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and introducing contraband into a detention facility. He has five misdemeanor convictions (one violent), and Judge Craig DeThomasis set bail at $4,000.

Kirkland has been charged with night hunting and possession of a controlled substance. He has six misdemeanor convictions (two violent), and Judge DeThomasis ordered him released on his own recognizance.

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.