TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) – Two Leon High School students were arrested for attempting to distribute an imitation of marijuana.
Kyle Jackson, 18, and a 17-year-old suspect were arrested by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.
On March 29 around 10:21 a.m., deputies received a call from a Chevron gas station on East Tennessee Street in response to what was originally considered as a possible robbery. Once deputies arrived, they were able to talk to the victim. The victim told deputies that he just withdrew $150 from Wells Fargo in order to run some errands and pay for things he was picking up for his mother.
The victim stated he pulled into the Chevron gas station to buy a snack before running his errands. He then informed deputies that he saw Jackson and the other suspect approach his car from behind.
The police report states that Jackson and the other suspect opened the back doors of the car, which were unlocked, and asked the victim for a ride.
The victim told them no, and said Jackson and the other suspect saw his money on the center console, took it, and ran.
The victim said he last saw them run on campus at Leon High School.
Deputies were able to watch the security video of the incident and the video evidence matched up with what the victim previously told deputies.
On the same day, deputies went to Leon High School and arrested Jackson and the 17-year-old suspect.
The victim informed deputies that he could identify Jackson, but not the other suspect.
A photo lineup was done and the victim said he was 100 percent certain that Jackson was one of the suspects that got into his car.
During separate interviews with deputies, the 17-year-old and Jackson said the victim was interested in buying marijuana from Jackson.
Jackson told deputies that the victim messaged him on Instagram, asking Jackson to sell him weed. Jackson agreed and a meeting was set up at the Chevron.
They informed deputies the deal was for $150 worth of weed.
The police report states Jackson did not have weed, so instead he wrapped crumpled school paper inside of toilet tissue, imitating the consistency of weed, and put it into a plastic bag.
The 17-year-old said him and Jackson intended on selling the crumpled school paper under the pretense it was weed.
He said him and Jackson then went to the Chevron and got into the victim’s car. Jackson handed the victim the plastic bag and the victim then handed Jackson $150 in cash, in which Jackson gave to the 17-year-old suspect.
The 17-year-old said he returned to the car to get his phone, which he left in the backseat, and the two then ran back to school.
They told deputies that they did not steal the money, but that a deal was made. The 17-year-old stated that he had $130 and gave Jackson $20 for his part in the deal.
During a follow-up interview with deputies, the victim said he found Jackson on Instagram and based on the content of Jackson’s page, he thought he could buy weed from Jackson.
The victim did say a deal was set for $150 worth of weed and that Jackson and the 17-year-old approached his car at the agreed time.
The victim stated Jackson threw the bag into the front seat and then they took the money sitting on the center console, and ran from the vehicle.
Deputies were told the 17-year-old is currently on pretrial release for unrelated charges and is currently wearing a GPS ankle monitor and they were able to confirm via GPS that he was there at the time of the incident and was moving at a running speed away from the Chevron.
Based on the evidence, Jackson and the 17-year-old were arrested and charged with attempting to distribute an imitation controlled substance by way of expressed and implied representation on March 29.
The 17-year-old was transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center.
credit:wtxl.com
