Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jerrica Lashay Armstrong, 29, was arrested this morning and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; she is on probation and was released from state prison on April 8 after serving a 13-month sentence for shooting at her on-and-off girlfriend and a car full of children.

At about 2:21 a.m., an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a car near the Maa and Paa Grocery Store; the deputy noted that the car had hit a curb as it turned from SW 20th Avenue onto SW 61st Street.

The officer reported that Armstrong smelled of green marijuana and that her breath smelled like an alcoholic beverage. A probable cause search of the vehicle reportedly produced a loaded Ruger 9mm pistol and two bottles of vodka; at least one was open, with the lid in a pocket in the car door.

Armstrong is a Violent Felony Offender in Florida and recently completed a 13-month prison sentence for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill; she is currently on probation in the same case. She has two felony convictions (two violent) and one misdemeanor conviction (violent). Judge Thomas Jaworski set bail at $25,000.

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.