Jack Doherty Arrested: Drug Charges, January Hearing, and Bond

YouTuber Jack Doherty was arrested in Miami Beach in the early morning of November 15, 2025, after he stepped into traffic on Washington Avenue to film social media content and refused police orders to move.¹ The 22-year-old was booked on one felony and two misdemeanors: possession of a controlled substance, possession of 20 grams or less of marijuana, and resisting an officer without violence.² At a January 2026 hearing, a judge identified the controlled substance as cocaine rather than the amphetamine listed in the original police report.³

What Happened on Washington Avenue

Around 3:12 a.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2025, Miami Beach Police on patrol along the 700 block of Washington Avenue saw Doherty and a group of associates step off the sidewalk into the northbound lanes with their phones out. Doherty positioned himself in the middle of the road, blocking vehicles in what police called a “significant safety hazard.”⁴

Officers ordered the group out of the roadway multiple times. People in Doherty’s own entourage told him to comply. He refused, telling officers, “Once I’m done with this bet!”¹ After a final warning, police took him into custody in the street.⁴

In a search incident to the arrest, officers found half of an orange, oval-shaped pill imprinted with the number “3,” which the report described as consistent with a Schedule II amphetamine, along with a black plastic container holding about four grams of suspected cannabis in three hand-rolled cigarettes.² The Miami Beach Police Department later wrote on Facebook: “We don’t ‘bet’ on public safety.”⁵

The Charges and What They Carry

Doherty faces three counts:

Felony possession of a controlled substance under Florida Statute 893.13, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.⁶
Misdemeanor possession of 20 grams or less of marijuana under the same statute, a first-degree misdemeanor.⁶
Resisting an officer without violence under Florida Statute 843.02, also a first-degree misdemeanor.⁷

First-degree misdemeanors in Florida carry up to one year of jail time and a fine of up to $1,000.

The January 2026 Hearing and the Cocaine Reclassification

On January 15, 2026, Doherty’s case was back in court. He did not appear in person. According to an attorney present at the courthouse, the judge allowed him to waive his attendance based on his “celebrity status.”³

During the hearing, the judge identified the controlled substance recovered from Doherty as cocaine, not the amphetamine named in the original police report. Both substances are Schedule II under Florida law, and the possession count remains a third-degree felony either way. The judge reportedly addressed only two of the three original charges, and it is not yet clear whether prosecutors have formally amended the drug charge to reflect the cocaine identification.³

Bond, Release, and Doherty’s Response

Doherty posted a $35,000 bond and was released from jail around 8 p.m. the same day he was arrested.⁸ He posted videos from outside the jail that evening and spoke with NBC 6 Miami, calling it “the worst 24 hours ever” and adding, “I wish I did something crazier to make it worth it.”⁹

He also pushed back on the arrest itself. “I think it was a little excessive, I’m not going to lie,” he told the station. “There was no traffic, it was three in the morning. I think they just wanted to lock me up, but fair enough, learned my lesson.” He added, “For sure, I would have definitely done it differently.”⁹

Where the Case Stands

As of the latest reporting from January 2026, the case is still open. No plea has been entered on the record, no trial date has been announced, and the charges have not been publicly resolved. The open question is whether prosecutors will formally amend the felony count to reflect cocaine rather than amphetamine, a change that could matter at sentencing if Doherty is convicted.³

1
USA Today. YouTube Jack Doherty Arrested
2
Local 10. YouTuber Jack Doherty Faces Drug Charges in Miami-Dade
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Times of India. What Are the Charges Against YouTuber Jack Doherty
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CBS News Miami. YouTuber Social Media Influencer Jack Doherty Miami Beach Arrest
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WJTV. YouTuber Jack Doherty Arrested While Filming Blocking Traffic
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Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Section 893.13
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Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Section 843.02
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Fox 5 DC. YouTuber Jack Doherty Arrested Drug Charges Miami Beach
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NBC Miami. YouTuber Jack Doherty Charged With Marijuana Possession in Miami Beach