A Leesburg man was arrested for drug possession after police found marijuana and Viagra-like pills in his possession during a traffic stop.
Police observed the driver of a gold Chevy Silverado, later identified as 46-year-old Jason Anthony Shelton, swerving on Southeast Highway 42 with a suspended license at about 1:49 a.m. Friday, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Law enforcement officials then conducted a traffic stop and spoke with Shelton, the affidavit said. He showed no signs of impairment, although he did appear to be nervous due to the passenger possibly having illegal narcotics on his person.
Shelton advised that he had a medical marijuana card and there may have been marijuana in the vehicle, the affidavit said. However, a check revealed he did not have a valid marijuana card as his application was still pending.
A K9 unit at the scene proceeded to conduct an open-air sniff of the vehicle, the affidavit said. The K9 positively alerted to the presence of narcotics, leading to a probable cause search of the vehicle.
The affidavit said that officers located a black fabric lunchbox sitting on the driver’s side floorboard which contained two bags of green leafy substance, a multicolor pipe with a burnt residue, loose green leafy substance in the bottom of the bag, two plastic containers with multiple round white pills and a “marijuana grinder” with a green leafy substance inside.
Three more multicolor pipes all with burnt residue were also found in the vehicle, one being in the center console and two being in a plastic container on the floorboard between the driver and passenger seat, the affidavit said.
All residues from the pipes and all of the green leafy substances later tested positive for marijuana, the affidavit said. A computer check revealed the white pills were sildenafil citrate, commonly known as Viagra or Revatio. While not classified as a controlled substance, the pills still required a prescription.
Shelton advised the lunchbox and its contents were his, as were the two pipes found on the floorboard of the vehicle. He stated he got the suspected narcotics legally with his medical marijuana card. However, officers found a card in his wallet that expired October 2019, the affidavit said.
In addition, Shelter later stated that the white pills were his and for “Ed.” He advised that he got the pills online without a prescription. The officer explained that it would not be possible due to them being prescription only, to which Shelton asked if the charges would be dropped if
he could later show his prescription for them. At that point, it was unclear whether he had a prescription or not, the affidavit said.
Shelton was ultimately arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail. He was charged with possession of marijuana (less than 20 grams), possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of harmful new legend drug without a prescription and operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license. He was released after posting $3,000 bond.
