A speeding Fruitland Park man was arrested on gun and drug charges in Leesburg.
A Leesburg police officer clocked 23-year-old Daniel A. Ardolino on Wednesday at the wheel of a Cadillac SUV at 79 miles per hour in a 45 mph speed zone. The officer stopped Ardolino in the parking lot of the Chipotle restaurant on U.S. Hwy. 441 in Leesburg. The officer noted in his report that Ardolino was making suspicious movements toward the passenger side of the vehicle.
The officer could smell the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the Cadillac as Ardolino handed his license to the officer. When asked if he had any drugs Ardolino said he did not. When asked if he had any weapons he said, “Not that I know of, but there may be.” When asked to get out of the SUV he pointed to the passenger floor area and started to reach for a weapon saying to the officer that “there is a gun down there,” according to the arrest report. The officer grabbed Ardolino’s arm and told him to put his hands on top of his head. Ardolino then exited the car and was handcuffed for officer safety.
When asked where the weapon maybe located Ardolino said “in the glove box.” The officer went to the passenger door and saw a backpack with a digital scale and marijuana flakes on it. A search of the backpack revealed a loaded Smith & Wesson pistol, several ziplock style baggies as well as a larger bag of marijuana along with the digital scale.
Ardolino was taken to the Leesburg Police Station where he was charged with possession of drugs (marijuana) with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia and carrying a concealed weapon. He was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting $8,000 bond.