Jacksonville Beach police say a routine spring patrol near 10th Avenue South turned into a gun arrest last week, after officers spotted a parked vehicle and found an AR-style pistol hidden in the driver’s lap. The driver, identified as Tedrick B. Crockett, was taken into custody without incident, while the front-seat passenger, who officers say was asleep, was released at the scene. Officers also reported finding an open container inside the vehicle.
How Officers Say The Stop Unfolded
According to the Jacksonville Beach Police Department, officers were working proactive patrols in the beach end-zones, checking for suspicious activity and ordinance violations, when they came across Crockett’s vehicle. Police say they approached the car regarding a city ordinance issue and started talking with the occupants.
Investigators report that the driver acknowledged there was a weapon in the vehicle and then reached toward a pair of jeans on his lap. Officers say they immediately issued clear commands and moved in to secure the firearm before anyone got hurt.
Police describe the seized weapon as an AR-style pistol loaded with 20 rounds of .300 Blackout ammunition, concealed inside the jeans on Crockett’s lap. After confirming that he was on active felony probation, officers arrested him on suspicion of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The passenger, who had been asleep in the front seat, was released without further issue, according to the department.
State And Federal Law
Possession of a firearm by someone with a felony conviction is illegal under Florida law, as outlined in Florida Statutes §790.23. Federal law also bars felons from having guns under 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(1), per the U.S. Department of Justice.
Convictions under these provisions can bring felony-level penalties, and being on active probation can trigger additional consequences, including potential violation proceedings. Prosecutors will decide on any formal charges once investigators finish their reports and submit the case for review.
Why Patrols Are Beefed Up
Police say the stop is part of a broader crackdown on unpermitted gatherings and weapons along the shoreline this spring, following a much-publicized “Senior Skip Day” that ended with multiple arrests and several firearms taken off the sand. Coverage of the March deployment, which officials described as part of a spring enforcement surge, was detailed in Senior Skip Day chaos at Jax Beach.
In its post about the gun arrest near 10th Avenue South, the Jacksonville Beach Police Department also shared a non-emergency phone number for anyone with information about the incident or concerns about similar activity along the beach.
