Alachua Man Arrested on Drug Trafficking and Firearms Charges

GAINESVILLE ‒ A 50-year-old Alachua man was taken into custody Wednesday night, Oct. 1, 2025, following a traffic stop that led to the discovery of firearms and a large quantity of methamphetamine, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say the arrest occurred around 10:30 p.m. in the 7400 block of Northwest 39^th Avenue after a Sheriff’s Deputy pulled over a vehicle with an expired license tag. The driver, identified as David Charles Stillwell, was found to have a suspended license and appeared visibly nervous during the encounter.

When questioned by the deputy, Stillwell reportedly acknowledged that there was a firearm inside the vehicle’s center console but declined to grant consent for a search. As a result, a Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit was called to the scene to conduct an exterior sniff of the vehicle. The K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics, giving deputies probable cause to perform a search.

During the search, deputies reportedly discovered a .357 revolver in the center console and a backpack containing a 9mm handgun along with a digital scale on the rear floorboard—equipment often associated with drug distribution. A locked money bag found under the driver’s seat was opened using a key belonging to Stillwell, revealing approximately 18 grams of methamphetamine.

Deputies also found an additional 32 grams of a substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine near a pipe with residue and a metal grinder, both of which also tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine residue. In total, the seized narcotics exceeded the statutory threshold for trafficking quantities of methamphetamine under Florida law.

Stillwell was subsequently arrested and transported to the Alachua County Jail. He faces multiple felony charges, including possession of trafficking quantities of methamphetamine, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, maintaining a drug vehicle, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Court records show that Stillwell has three prior misdemeanor convictions, one of which was classified as violent. He does not appear to have prior felony convictions on record in Alachua County.

Judge Jonathan Ramsey of the Eighth Judicial Circuit set Stillwell’s bail at $200,000, citing the severity of the charges and the volume of narcotics recovered.

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