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.