One Gainesville man’s hide-and-seek game with deputies ended in several drug possession charges on Saturday.
Clarence Harris III, 43, of Gainesville, is accused of dropping a backpack carrying cocaine and marijuana while running away from deputies Friday afternoon, according to an arrest report.
An Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputy noticed Harris riding a scooter near Northwest 75th Street wearing headphones covering his ears, the report said.
After the deputy turned on the patrol car’s lights and siren, Harris pulled into a parking spot on the 7000 block of West University Avenue, threw down the scooter and ran away, the report said.
Harris dropped a backpack containing 6.6 grams of cocaine, about a half gram of marijuana, a scale and empty baggies, deputies said.
Early Saturday morning, deputies went to an apartment complex at the 6800 block of West University Avenue looking for Harris. Deputies called for Harris to come out of the apartment eight times with no success, the report said.
Harris’ girlfriend eventually came outside and told deputies Harris was the only person inside. She gave deputies permission to enter, the report said.
A police dog was sent into the apartment and found Harris hiding inside, deputies said.
Harris is charged with one count of driving with a suspended license, one count of resisting without violence, one count of possessing cocaine and one count of marijuana possession, according to the report.
He is held in Alachua County Jail in lieu of a $40,000 bond.
Contact Amanda Rosa at arosa@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @AmandaNicRosa
