Gainesville, Fla. – In a dramatic turn of events on the evening of December 25, Keith Lorenzo Singleton Jr., 38, found himself facing serious charges of drug trafficking and assaulting a police officer following a routine traffic stop for a dimly-lit license plate.

The incident unfolded around 11 p.m., when an officer from the Gainesville Police Department noticed a vehicle on the 100 block of NE 9th Street with a license plate light so dim that it was unreadable from 50 feet away. A quick check of the vehicle’s registration revealed that the owner’s license was suspended, prompting the officer to pull the car over near the Aloha Liquor Store.

Singleton, seated in the front passenger seat, was asked to exit the vehicle along with the driver. The officer detected the telltale scent of burnt cannabis emanating from the car. In a sudden move, Singleton reportedly dashed back to the vehicle, grabbed a bag from the floor, and fled on foot.

A chase ensued, and an officer managed to catch up with Singleton, tackling him to the ground. During the altercation, Singleton allegedly head-butted the officer in the face. With the assistance of a second officer, Singleton was restrained and handcuffed. A search following his arrest revealed that he was carrying $2,497 in cash, divided into various denominations.

The bag Singleton had retrieved from the vehicle was examined by the police, with help from a K-9 unit. Inside, they reportedly discovered approximately 20.8 grams of fentanyl, several bags of marijuana totaling 541.5 grams, 106 oxycodone pills weighing 31.9 grams, along with a scale and multiple sizes of baggies, all indicative of drug trafficking activities.

An officer and a K-9 team searched the bag Singleton had taken from the vehicle, and the search reportedly produced a baggie containing about 20.8 grams of fentanyl, multiple bags of marijuana totaling about 541.5 grams, 106 oxycodone pills weighing a total of 31.9 grams, a scale, and multiple sizes of baggies.

Singleton reportedly stated spontaneously that the bag belonged to him and the driver “had nothing to do with it.”

Post Miranda, Singleton did not want to answer any questions.

Singleton has been charged with trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in oxycodone, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, resisting an officer with violence, battery on a police officer, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has nine felony convictions (two violent) and seven misdemeanor convictions (non-violent) and has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in April 2025. Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

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.