A Leesburg man was arrested Saturday for drug possession after being stopped for swerving on the highway.
Police observed a silver Hyundai SUV heading southbound on U.S. Hwy. 27/441 at around 9:19 a.m., according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department. The SUV swerved into the center lane from the outer lane, causing the vehicle in the middle lane to honk the horn.
The officer positioned his vehicle behind the SUV and followed it down the road, the report said. During that time, he watched 23-year-old Jordan Miguel Rodriguez drift from the outer lane four times, with the passenger side tires crossing the solid white lines. Rodriguez also abruptly sped up and slowed down for no apparent reason multiple times.
A traffic stop was initiated, and the officer spoke to Rodriguez. The smell of marijuana emitted from the vehicle, as well as something strong and freshly sprayed. Remnants of a marijuana cigarette were in an ash tray in the center of the SUV. Various pieces of a green, leafy substance were on the driver’s seat, the report said.
When asked if he had a medical marijuana card, Rodriguez stated he did not. He advised that there was no marijuana in the vehicle, but he did smoke earlier in the day, the report said.
The report stated a search of the vehicle was conducted at this point. Two and one half of blue, rectangular pills with the marking “B707” were found in the compartment of the center console. This was revealed to be alprazolam, or Xanax, a schedule-controlled substance.
Rodriguez denied any knowledge of the pills and said they belonged to a friend who had been in the vehicle the night before, the report said.
Rodriguez was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance for alprazolam. He was transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $2,000 bond.
