On Thursday, February 15, around 11:30 a.m., deputies were patrolling the area of Magnolia Road in Marianna when they attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by James Anthony Christmas, who they knew to have active warrants. Deputies also learned that Christmas’ driver’s license has been suspended since 2022.
When deputies made contact with Christmas, he stated that he left his driver’s license at home, then gave deputies a false date of birth.
When backup arrived on scene, deputies asked Christmas to step out of his vehicle. When he exited his vehicle, he shoved the deputy, then fled. A brief foot chase ensued, and deputies eventually tased Christmas and arrested him.
When deputies searched Christmas, they found a glass smoking pipe and aluminum foil in his pocket. Inside the aluminum foil, deputies found a total of 14 grams of methamphetamine in separate plastic baggies.
K-9 Rocky was then deployed and alerted to the presence of the odor of narcotics inside the vehicle. When deputies searched the vehicle, they located 11 additional empty plastic baggies.
Christmas was arrested and is being charged with Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting an Officer Without Violence, and Driving Without a License.
