A Leesburg man pulled over for possibly having his rear window improperly tinted was arrested after he reportedly tried to resist an officer and then was found to have cocaine in his pocket.
Eric Lemont Greene, 39, of 1179 Bentley Road #3, was behind the wheel of a silver vehicle that a Leesburg Police officer observed Friday traveling on Beecher Street with its rear window possibly tinted in violation of Florida state statute. The officer initiated a traffic stop as the vehicle pulled into a parking spot at 892 Beecher St., according to the police report.
As the officer approached the vehicle, he noticed the driver’s side front door open and Greene starting to get out. The officer gave him verbal instructions to stop, but Greene continued to exit the vehicle. The officer told Greene this was a traffic stop and he needed to get back into the vehicle, but he refused and was looking around for a way to run, the report said.
After the officer told Greene a third time to get back into the car, Greene closed the driver door and locked it. He then looked to the right of the officer, giving an indication he was about to run. The officer took the handcuffs out of his vest and ordered Greene to turn around, as he was going to be detained for his suspicious behavior and officer safety until backup arrived, according to the report.
Greene actively resisted while the officer tried to put him in handcuffs, pulling his arms and trying to get away. After a brief struggle, the officer was able to get control of Greene’s arms as the backup officer was arriving, and the two officers were able to safely place handcuffs on him. No weapons or other force was used during the incident, the report said.
Once Greene was under arrest, the officer conducted a records search that revealed outstanding warrants for driving with a suspended license and failing to appear. Greene has a total of two license suspensions and one conviction for driving with a suspended license, according to the report.
During a post-arrest search, a clear plastic bag with a white powdery substance was found inside Greene’s front right jeans pocket. The powder weighed about 1.2 grams and tested positive for cocaine, the report said.
Greene was charged with resisting an officer without violence, possession of cocaine, driving with a suspended license, along with the two warrants. He was taken to the Lake County Jail, where he was released Saturday on $7,232 bond. Greene is scheduled to appear in Lake County Court on March 15.
