A traffic stop on Christmas Eve in Monroe County in Florida resulted in a 40-year-old man going to jail for the holidays. Although he obtained his release two days later after posting a $64,000 bond, he has multiple felony charges related to controlled substances allegedly found in his car for which to answer.
The arrest report filed by a sheriff’s deputy asserted that the man had been driving 70 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone. The deputy initiated a traffic stop, and the male driver said that he was rushing home with Christmas presents. To thwart a search of the vehicle, the man threw his keys into the car and locked it. Deputies called for a tow truck and proceeded with a search after the car was unlocked. They reported finding cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine and prescriptions pills without a prescription.
The man also had an active warrant for his arrest because he had failed to appear in court after a traffic violation. Law enforcement had arrested him on three previous occasions for driving on a suspended license. In addition to felony charges for drug possession, authorities charged him with nonviolently obstructing an investigation and habitually driving without a proper license.
Before a person enters a plea in court to answer for alleged drug crimes, a consultation with an attorney could be informative. A lawyer might spot problems with the conduct of law enforcement, such as an illegal search. This could provide an opportunity to create a defense strategy that pushes for the dismissal or reduction of charges. The efforts of an attorney might also result in a plea deal that limits penalties.
Source: Jalopnik, “Florida Man Gets Pulled Over for Speeding, Realizes Cops Can’t Search What They Can’t Open“, Alanis King, December 28, 2018
