A Leesburg man was arrested for drug possession after his nervous behavior led to a search of himself and his vehicle.
Police observed a teal Ford F150 passing several vehicles on a solid double yellow line to enter a turn lane on County Roads 470 and 33 around 5:55 p.m. Friday, according to a case report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The officer caught up to the vehicle to conduct a traffic stop and explained his reasoning to the driver, 27-year-old Tremaine Antonio Gadsden. The officer requested his license at which point he retrieved his wallet from his pant pocket and asked if it was his license that was needed, the report said.
Once the officer confirmed this and further requested his registration and insurance, Gadsden immediately dropped his wallet and began searching for the other documents. He brought them out without his license, prompting the officer to ask for it again. Gadsden placed his wallet next to his right leg, concealing it while he tried to pull out his license, the report said.
The officer attempted to reposition himself to ensure Gadsden was not reaching for weapons or concealing contraband, but he continually concealed his hands and wallet. He looked back at the officer nervously while handling his wallet and eventually handed over the license, stating that he was having a hard time getting it out. His hands were also shaking whereas they were not before, the report said.
Gadsden’s nervousness, shaking and unusual actions led the officer to ask him to step out of the vehicle. He immediately became defensive as he stepped out, asking what he did. The officer explained he was just patting him down for weapons and not searching him, the report said.
The officer asked for consent from Gadsden to search his vehicle and person. He continued to show signs of nervousness, repeatedly asking the same questions and making defensive remarks. He then provided consent for the searches, the report said.
The officer searched Gadsden’s person and attempted to search his wallet, at which time he grabbed his wallet from the officer’s hands and stated “man give me my wallet man.” The officer noticed a clear baggie sticking out of the wallet that he recognized as something commonly used to contain illegal narcotics, the report said.
Gadsden quickly pushed the baggie further into his wallet to conceal it from view and stated that it was a “baggie.” He then pulled it back out where the officer saw a white residue inside. A test yielded positive results for cocaine. A further search of the wallet revealed two cut straws and multiple pieces of burnt aluminum foil which Gadsden stated he used for cocaine, the report said.
The officer proceeded to search the vehicle and found another baggie in the driver’s door containing a white powdery substance. This was on top of a bunch of trash in the door pocket and appeared to have just been placed there, the report said.
After placing Gadsden in the back of a patrol car, the officer began to search his sock. Prior to taking the sock off his left foot, Gadsden stated “there is something in my sock right there. I told you I’m an addict.” The officer then removed a pen cap containing a clear baggie with white powdery substance. Both substances from the truck and the sock tested positive for cocaine, the report said.
Gadsden was ultimately charged with two counts of possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond.
