On March 26, a 32-year-old Florida man was arrested after authorities allegedly found drugs and a handgun in his car during a traffic stop. He was already on probation for a prior offense.
According to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, deputies from the department’s S.P.I.D.E.R. Unit pulled over a gray Ford after its driver was observed not wearing a seat belt and failing to come to a complete stop at an intersection in northwest Leon County. A K9 unit from the Florida Highway Patrol was called to the scene, and the dog allegedly signaled that drugs may be in the vehicle. The car was searched, and deputies say they uncovered a black backpack containing a small bag of alpha-PVP, which is a powerful stimulant, several orange pill bottles and some small plastic baggies. They also reportedly located a silver .25 caliber handgun, 13 rounds of .25 caliber ammunition and two photographs of an unspecified nature.
The defendant claimed he didn’t know what was in the backpack, but he did admit that his fingerprints might be on the handgun. He was taken into custody and transported to the Leon County Detention Facility for processing. He has been charged with various drug and weapons crimes.
Drug charges can lead to harsh consequences in Florida, including long prison sentences, expensive fines, probation and a permanent criminal record. Because the stakes are so high, defendants facing drug charges might wish to contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. The attorney may work to protect a defendant’s rights throughout the legal process, scrutinize the evidence and attempt to build a solid defense against the accusations. Depending on the details of the case, these efforts might cause the charges to be reduced or dismissed.
