Traffic Stop Leads to Alachua Man’s Arrest, Fentanyl Seizure

GAINESVILLE – A 66-year-old Alachua man was arrested Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, after a traffic stop in the Phoenix area led deputies to discover distribution quantities of fentanyl and marijuana inside his pickup truck, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

The stop occurred around 5:55 p.m. when a deputy pulled over the truck after it failed to stop at a stop sign. The driver, identified as Derrick Reng Washington, reportedly refused to consent to a search of the vehicle. A Narcotics Detection K-9 was deployed and conducted an open-air sniff, alerting deputies to the presence of illegal substances.

A probable cause search of the truck reportedly revealed numerous baggies inside the cab as well as two traffic cones in the bed of the vehicle. Inside one of the cones, deputies found a plastic bag containing approximately 1.7 grams of fentanyl and about 37.8 grams of marijuana.

Washington was arrested and charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to sell, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, maintaining a vehicle for the purpose of selling drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Court records show Washington has an extensive criminal history that includes 12 felony convictions — two classified as violent — and four misdemeanor convictions. He has served three state prison sentences and was most recently released in 2008.

Washington is currently enrolled in a Veterans Court pre-trial diversion program stemming from a 2023 arrest for cocaine possession. The program requires counseling and regular urine testing. According to official reports, Washington tested positive for THC and cocaine the day after entering the program.

He reportedly told one official that cocaine entered his system through his hands while cutting it for sale, and later told another official he cut the cocaine for his girlfriend. Although the program was intended to last 12 months, he has yet to complete it. His Nov. 5 arrest is being reported as a violation of the program’s conditions.

Judge Adam Lee set Washington’s bail at $100,000.

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