A 44-year-old Leesburg man was arrested after drugs were found in his pocket during a traffic stop in Eustis.
Jerome Harry Kowalski, of 12028 Grace Lane, was charged with possession of fentanyl and possession of drug equipment. He already had an active warrant for failure to appear in court on a charge of driving without a valid license.
Kowalski was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by a Eustis police officer early Friday for not having a working tail light. The driver told the officer he had just met Kowalski and a female passenger at Fish Games in Dona Vista. He said he had agreed to give them a ride somewhere off State Road 19 in Eustis, according to the police report.
A K9 gave a positive alert for narcotics on the passenger side of the vehicle, where Kowalski was sitting. Kowalski said his name was James but did not give a middle or last name. After the positive alert, he admitted he had given a false name and he provided a Florida ID with his correct information. Kowalski said he lied about his name because there was an active warrant for his arrest, the report said.
The deputy confirmed the warrant and placed Kowalski under arrest. A search of Kowalski’s pockets turned up a red straw with white powder residue inside, along with a clear plastic bag containing a white powder. The substance in the straw and bag tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl, according to the report.
Kowalski is being held in the Lake County Jail on $3,000 bond. He will appear in Lake County Court on June 20.
