An Oxford man was arrested last week after a Sumter County sheriff’s deputy found a large quantity of marijuana, drug-laced candies and two loaded pistols inside a vehicle during a routine traffic stop.
The deputy stopped 22-year-old Rosheem Alachino Caquias on July 2, on County Road 229, just north of State Road 44, after watching his red Toyota cross the middle divider line twice while traveling 10 miles per hour faster than the posted speed limit of 35 mph. As the deputy was speaking with Caquias shortly before midnight, he reported smelling a strong odor marijuana coming from the vehicle, a sheriff’s office report states.
Caquias told the deputy he had recently smoked a “blunt” in the car and he had two loaded handguns underneath his seat, the report adds.
After removing Caquias from his car, the deputy found both Glock pistols, a Model 43 9mm and a Model 21 .45-caliber automatic, positioned under the driver’s seat with the handles pointing toward the front of the seat.
“The firearms appeared to be positioned so they could easily be obtained while sitting in the vehicle,” the report notes, adding that both pistols contained loaded magazines without anything in the chamber.
The report also notes that neither handgun was secured in a case or holster and both were concealed from view underneath the seat. And in addition to the weapons, the deputy reported finding an extended magazine for the 45-caliber pistol sticking up between the driver’s seat and the console, and a drum-style magazine on the rear floor behind the driver’s seat.
The deputy also found a glass jar in the center console containing a large amount of a green leafy substance “consistent with marijuana,” along with a black digital scale and empty clear plastic baggies “consistent with drug packaging and sale,” the report notes.
In addition, the deputy found a small baggie containing a green leafy substance on the rear floorboard behind the driver’s seat. And a large glass jar containing a green leafy substance and a large plastic bag containing multiple smaller plastic baggies containing multi-colored candies were located inside a black backpack behind the driver’s seat, the report says.
The deputy said several of the approximately 57 candies contained labels that read: “THC: 10 mg,” “THCA: 0.01 mg,” “CBD: 0.01 mg” and “CBN: .39 mg.” The report notes that the individual candies appeared to be “THC candies,” which are considered a controlled substance.
Multiple empty plastic baggies “commonly used for drug sales,” another digital scale and a box of unopened tobacco cigars also were found inside the backpack, the report says, adding that several paper receipts – one containing the name “Caquias” – also were located. And the deputy found “an abundance” of plastic baggies “consistent with drug sales” and empty glass jars in the vehicle’s trunk.
The green leafy substances and the candies all tested positive for marijuana. The marijuana recovered weighed 88 grams, while the candies were approximately 654 grams, or 1.44 pounds, the report says.
Caquias was taken into custody and transported to the Sumter County Detention Center. He was charged with two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a concealed firearm while in the commission of a felony, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana over 20 grams, possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, possession of marijuana/THC candies with the intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia. He also was issued a written warning for failure to maintain his lane and unlawful speed.
Caquias was released at 5:41 p.m. Tuesday, July 3, on $10,750 bond.
