A homeless woman was charged with loitering and drug possession after her suspicious behavior led to a search and her arrest at a park.
Police observed 42-year-old Nicole Marie Ross and a male companion at the Mascotte Recreational Center, located at 772 Park Road, after hours on the evening of Friday, Sept. 1, according to an arrest report from the Mascotte Police Department.
The officer questioned both individuals as to why they were there so late, and Ross said she was getting her bike fixed by the male subject. The reason given by the male for them coming from the opposite direction of where the bicycle was located was that he was smoking a cigarette and Ross was over there with him, the report said.
As one officer was speaking with the male, another one stood by Ross and noticed she was staring at him while grinding her foot into the dirt. The officer asked her to remove her foot from where it was. When she did so, it was revealed that she was trying to conceal or destroy a glass smoking device, according to the report.
Ross was immediately placed under arrest and the male was detained. After being searched, the male was released and left the park. Ross was then searched, and the officer found a syringe with 2.54 grams of brown liquid inside. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine, the report said.
Ross was charged with loitering and prowling, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine, and tampering with physical evidence. She was transported to the Lake County Jail, where her bond was set at $8,500.
