Monday, July 10, 2017

Neighborly Team Work Results in Two Arrests


July 10, 2017
On Sunday July 9th the Levy County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force (DTF) received a tip that a subject wanted by the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) for robbery was in a vehicle and going to a gas station in Fanning Springs. The LCSO DTF as well as LCSO patrol deputies and GCSO investigators began surveillance near the gas station and identified James Waylon Cruce (9-12-84) when he arrived. Cruce was found seated in the passenger side of a silver four door Toyota driven by Kellie Ponce (11-20-90) of Cross City. Cruce was immediately taken into custody by LCSO deputies.
Deputies searched the vehicle where Cruce had been seated and found a cache of drugs and a gun. Deputies tested the illegal drugs and identified cocaine, methamphetamines, marijuana and an unidentified white powdery substance. Cruce, a convicted felon, is prohibited from being in possession of any firearm. The gun, a loaded .38 caliber pistol, had recently been reported stolen from a Gilchrist County citizen. Additionally, Cruce had credit cards belonging to a Gilchrist County resident who had also reported a theft.
Cruce was booked into the Levy County Detention Facility and has been charged with multiple felony drug possession charges, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of marijuana (a misdemeanor). His bond has been set at $ 510,000.00
Ms. Ponce was also arrested. She is a habitual traffic offender and was driving without a valid license. She was booked into the Levy County Detention Facility and released on her own recognizance at first appearance.
Charges of robbery have been filed by the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office. Cruce will later appear in the courts in Gilchrist County on these charges.