Share this @internewscast.com

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – William Blas Hernandez, a 27-year-old resident of Hawthorne, was apprehended yesterday for possessing large quantities of drugs and a firearm, which had been reported missing in Orlando.

Around 10 a.m. on July 5, an officer from the Gainesville Police Department stopped Hernandez’s vehicle because it was speeding at 54 mph in a 45 mph zone along the 3800 block of NE 14th Street. During the stop, Hernandez admitted he lacked a valid driver’s license and could not present the vehicle’s registration documentation.

The officer observed Hernandez appeared anxious and lit a cigarette. When questioned about his anxiety, Hernandez claimed he was not nervous, although the officer noticed his chest moving rapidly. Upon being asked if there were any illegal drugs or firearms in the car, Hernandez reportedly looked at a gold backpack on the passenger floor and denied the presence of any illicit items.

The officer reported that he asked Hernandez to get out of the vehicle “because of his size,” and when he confirmed that Hernandez’s driver’s license was not valid, he detained him in handcuffs.

The officer reportedly saw a fresh marijuana “blunt” in the driver’s side door pocket, and a probable cause search of the vehicle reportedly produced a loaded 9mm pistol in the gold backpack; the pistol had been reported lost in Orlando. The backpack also reportedly held 42 grams of pressed pills, 18.6 grams of methamphetamines, 2.1 grams of an unknown purple powder in a baggie, a digital scale, a pack of plastic baggies, and an ATM receipt for a transaction on Hernandez’s bank account.

Post Miranda, Hernandez reportedly said the backpack was not his and he didn’t know about any of its contents. When asked if his fingerprints would be found on any of the contents, he reportedly said they would not because he hadn’t touched anything inside the backpack.

However, when he was asked about the ATM receipt for his account, he reportedly said the receipt must have fallen out of his wallet or pocket when he was in the vehicle; he also reportedly said his passenger was picking up trash inside the vehicle and placing the trash in the backpack.

Later, Hernandez reportedly said the backpack and its contents were his. He reportedly said the pressed pills were MDMA, the crystalline powder was methamphetamines, and he did not know what the purple powder was. He reportedly said he was selling illegal narcotics because of financial and family struggles.

When the officer asked where he got the gun, Hernandez reportedly said he found it on the side of the road in Interlachen. The officer reportedly asked Hernandez if he knew he was a convicted felon and was not allowed to possess firearms, and Hernandez reportedly said he was aware of those things.

Hernandez has been charged with possession of trafficking quantities of methamphetamines, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by someone who knows he is prohibited from having one, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving without a valid license. Hernandez has at least eight felony convictions (two violent) and at least two misdemeanor convictions (two violent); he has served three prison sentences and was most recently released in January 2025 after serving sentences for burglary and drug possession out of Alachua and Bradford counties. Judge David Kreider set bail at $250,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 


Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Man Accused of Beheading Father Following Unsuccessful Citizen’s Arrest

Background: The Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown, Pa. (Google Maps). Inset…

Man Accused of Harassing Women at Gas Station Fatally Shoots Another Man: Police

Background: The BP at 778 Grant Street in Akron, Ohio (Google Maps)…

Officer Sean Houle Survives Shooting and Rescues Drowning Victim

“Are you Mac?” As I looked at the handsome young man walking…

‘Elderly Man, 85, Assaulted in Road Rage Incident: Police Report’

Left: John Kreitner (Dearborn Police Department). Right: Judo Whitaker (WXYZ/YouTube). The Kroger…

Sheriff: Uncle fatally attacked nephew and abandoned body roadside

Context: The vicinity of County Road 39 and County Road 8 in…

Younger brother repeatedly lost battles – until he finally won one with tragic consequences.

Michael John Morgan (Phoenix Police Department). An Arizona man will spend nearly…

Frustrated Judge Criticizes Department of Justice Lawyer at Abrego Garcia Hearing

Inset: Kilmar Abrego Garcia in an undated photo (CASA). Background: President Donald…

Paddleboarder’s Mysterious Death at Pond Leaves Many Questions Unanswered

The investigation continues into the case of a paddleboarder who was found…

Gainesville Resident Accused of Coercing Friend into Assisting Escape from July 2nd Shooting Scene

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Xzavier Taylor Hawkins, 20, was apprehended yesterday…

Judge Cannon Urged to Address Unresolved Mar-a-Lago Matter

Left: Judge Aileen Cannon (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of…

Father Charged with Murdering Wife and Stepdaughter, Abducting Son

Inset: Aaron Dontay Williams (Auburn Police Dept.). Background: The home where Williams…

Man Arrested for Stalking and Threatening Ex-Wife and Child

Inset: Taylor Warford (23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office). Background: The Jefferson County…