JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A security sweep to ensure no burglars were inside an East Arlington home turned into a drug and gun investigation that ended in the arrest of the home’s renter, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Police said on Monday, JSO officers responded to a burglary in progress and ended up finding a “large stash” of firearms and drugs including seven firearms, 167 pounds of marijuana, 37.3 pounds of edibles, 102.4 grams of marijuana oil, $7,660 in cash and $10,000 in jewelry.
According to the arrest report, on Dec. 30, police were called to the home on Staffordshire Drive about a possible burglary. The renter was not home, but his brother reported to the police that no one should be in the house.
When officers first arrived, they noticed a window at the back of the home appeared to have been broken. The renter’s brother called him and allowed his brother to speak to the officers.
The report states that the home’s renter gave the officers verbal consent to search the property for any burglars and provided them with the security code to enter the front door.
“It is a mind-boggling set of circumstances that knowing all that is in there they would still call law enforcement and invite law enforcement to go in and take a look to make sure everything is safe,” News4JAX Crime and Safety Analyst Tom Hackney said.
The report states that when officers walked into the kitchen, they found a large bag of marijuana on the stove. They also found another large amount of marijuana in plain view in an upstairs bedroom.
With the help of the Narcotics and Vice Section, officers obtained a search warrant.
The search of the home led to the discovery of a .357 Magnum handgun in the living room along with drug paraphernalia in a second bedroom. A search of the dining room led to the discovery of a safe containing 30 pounds of edibles, a Rolex watch, and cash. According to the arrest report, investigators believe the Rolex and cash came from drug sales. A search of the garage turned up a safe containing an assortment of guns that included:
- Mini Draco 7.62 with magazine and ammo
- Kriss Vector CRB 10mm with magazine
- AR pistol with no serial number
- FN pistol 10 mm with mag and ammo
- Sig Saur P320 pistol with extended mag and ammo
- Glock 19 with extended magazine and ammo
- Additional 15 magazines with ammo
“That’s one thing that truly stands out about this is not only the amount of firepower that was in that house but the fact that one of those guns didn’t have a serial number,” Hackney said. “That’s pretty interesting and it’s going to draw a lot of attention from law enforcement and even up to the federal level of law enforcement to have them try to find out where that gun came from, why it has no serial number, and what history the gun has.”
The man now faces multiple drug-related charges, including trafficking marijuana, possessing drug paraphernalia for the delivery of drugs, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, and renting a home to be used as a drug house.
According to JSO, the suspect was arrested earlier in the year on gun and drug charges.
“It appears he didn’t learn his lesson,” JSO wrote via X.
The man was released on a $92,000 bond on New Year’s Day. His next court date was set for Jan. 22.