Archer Man Charged with Evidence Tampering, Allegedly Shoved Marijuana into Patrol Car Grille

ARCHER ‒ Norman Alexander Burley, 67, was arrested Sunday, Feb. 26, and charged with tampering with evidence after allegedly shoving marijuana into the grille of a deputy’s patrol car.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on an SUV driven by Burley at about 1:40 a.m. in the area of 12771 S.W. SR 45 in Archer. The deputy noted that the driver was unable to maintain lines and “crossed over the white line on the right shoulder multiple times” while following him for approximately two miles.

Burley reportedly gave verbal consent to a search of the vehicle and his person. While searching his person, a dime-size baggie of marijuana was found in his left pants pocket. The deputy reported that while he was gathering paperwork inside his patrol car, his in-car dashboard camera showed Burley taking marijuana from the hood of the patrol vehicle and shoving it inside the grille of the vehicle. He reported that he was unable to locate the evidence after a thorough search of the grille and engine bay of the vehicle.

Burley was charged with one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. Burley’s criminal history includes at least two felonies, with his most recent conviction in 2001.

Bail was set at $10,000.

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