Six suspects were arrested on drugs and weapons charges at Parkside Garden Apartments on Friday in Ocala following an investigation into a deadly shooting that took place in the area the day before.
Twenty-nine-year-old Toney Franklin, 26-year-old Xavier Dallas, 20-year-old Stephone Christopher, 25-year-old Keo Mike and two juveniles were arrested for either drug or weapons possession, according to an Ocala Police Department media release.
Just a day after a shooting that took place in an Ocala apartment last Thursday, OPD officers conducted securities and approached building 800 at 621 NW 2nd Street. Franklin and Dallas were in the stairwell and fled on foot up to the second story when they saw law enforcement, ignoring verbal commands for them to stop. Franklin dropped and picked up a handgun before running into an apartment. Dallas tossed his gun and attempted to enter an apartment but was detained.
A juvenile opened the door to an apartment, in which detectives observed the scent of marijuana as well as Christopher standing directly behind the juvenile holding a semi-automatic firearm in his hand. Detectives entered the apartment announcing police presence, and the juvenile and Christopher were detained. Mike was stopped and detained as he attempted to jump out of the second story window. Another juvenile and Franklin were also detained.
At the apartment, police recovered suspected meth, suspected marijuana, a stolen pistol with a magazine, a loaded .40 caliber pistol, ecstasy, unknown pills, ammunition, a Glock 43 9 mm pistol and magazine and a Remington 870 shotgun.