Wanted man hiding in car arrested on drug charges

A Leesburg man wanted out of Lake County was arrested for drug possession despite trying to hide from law enforcement in a car.   

Police responded to 323 Sandy Oak Court on Sept. 23 in reference to a possible known subject wanted with Lake County warrants. The caller believed the subject, later identified as 35-year-old Bryant Wallace, was sitting in a green four-door vehicle that was backed into a parking spot. 

Upon arrival, the officers observed the vehicle and two occupants sitting inside, one in the driver’s seat and one directly behind the driver in the second row. Officers approached the vehicle, a green 1999 Honda, to speak with the occupants when they noticed Wallace was not among them, the report said. 

During this time, Wallace’s brother stood in the parking lot and became upset over the police talking to his friends. One of the officers spoke with the concerned brother to calm him down and ask more questions about the whereabouts of Wallace, the report said.  

Once that conversation was over, another officer noticed a glass pipe commonly used to smoke marijuana in the center console. The occupants of the vehicle were subsequently removed, which allowed for the discovery of a third passenger lying completely flat in the front right seat. This passenger was identified as Wallace, the report said. 

The officers then conducted a search of the vehicle. An opened black and silver pack of Cigarillos was in close reach of the front right passenger area between the seat and the center console. He opened the packet and observed a large white brick of white crystal-like substance with smaller pieces, the report said.  

When asked about this, Bryant advised he did not understand due to having a mental disability. The other individuals on scene stated they did not know what was within the contents of the package either, the report said. 

Bryant was detained and brought to Leesburg PD for booking. While the officer prepared kits to test the substance, Bryant spontaneously uttered he thought it was cocaine. He explained that he typically crushes it up and puts it in water to drink it. A small portion of the 11.7 grams tested positive for cocaine, the report said.   

Bryant was charged with possession of cocaine. He was transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $2,000 bond.