An 18-year-old Ocala man was taken into custody on a felony charge after deputies allegedly discovered a loaded weapon inside the pickup he was driving in the parking lot for students at Forest High School.
According to the report, deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office came to Forest High School (5000 SE Maricamp Road) on Tuesday, May 19, for a report of a car “doing burnouts” in the parking lot.
When the officers arrived at the student parking area, they encountered Tanner James Dickey, who was allegedly conducting a burnout in a white GMC vehicle.
A deputy reported seeing Dickey reach under the driver’s seat. After Dickey was requested to depart the vehicle, the deputy discovered two loaded pistol magazines on the driver’s side floorboard near the front center console, according to the report.
While searching under the driver’s seat, the deputy allegedly discovered a 9mm handgun in a holster. The firearm allegedly had a loaded magazine with one bullet in the chamber.
Dickey was read his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with police, claiming he was unaware the firearm was under the seat. According to the report, he claimed to have borrowed the truck from a family friend the previous evening.
During the post-Miranda interview, Dickey stated that he had been reaching down to conceal a tobacco canister, despite the fact that no such canister was discovered on the floorboard during the vehicle search.
Dickey also allegedly said that before borrowing the truck, he asked if there were any firearms in the car, to which the truck’s owner responded, “No.”
However, the truck’s owner reportedly arrived at the school and informed detectives that he has a concealed carry certificate and often transports firearms in the vehicle. According to the complaint, the owner told law authorities that he stored the pistol in the center console area and said that Dickey never asked him about the firearms in the truck.
Dickey was arrested and brought into the Marion County Jail. He was released the next day after posting bond, and he is being charged with possessing a handgun on school property.
According to jail records, Dickey is set to appear in a Marion County courthouse on Tuesday, June 23, at 9 a.m.
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