A Mount Dora man was arrested for cocaine possession despite trying to hide the evidence during a traffic stop for speeding.
Police observed the driver of a four-door Chevy, later identified as 20-year-old Brycen Jocobe Williams, speeding in the left lane of U.S. Hwy. 441 around 1:55 a.m. on Dec. 21, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
While the officer was parked, he recorded the vehicle’s speed as being 74 mph in a 45-mph zone. He then turned on his headlights, got onto the roadway and activated his emergency lights and sirens. As he got behind the vehicle, he noted its speed to be 80 mph in a then 50-mph zone, the report said.
The vehicle made a quick change of lane into the left turn lane, turned into the southbound lanes and abruptly pulled onto the shoulder. After coming to a final stop on the shoulder, Williams opened the driver’s door. The officer gave him clear commands to stay inside the vehicle, the report said.
Because of William’s actions, the officer requested another officer come to the scene. He gave Williams loud verbal instructions to keep his hands outside the vehicle in the meantime. Williams dropped an item to the ground outside the driver’s door while they waited for other officers to arrive, the report said.
Upon the arrival of other officers, Williams was ordered out of the vehicle and quickly detained. A small plastic baggie was observed on the ground outside the driver’s door during this process. Williams was then brought back to a patrol vehicle, searched and placed in the back seat, the report said.
While further inspecting the plastic baggie, the officer noticed it to be wet and appeared to be chewed on and ripped. It seemed like Williams tried to destroy or conceal the crystal-like substance inside the baggie, the report said.
This discovery led to the officers searching the vehicle. They subsequently found more of the crystal-like substance in plain view on the center console near the gear shift, the report said.
At about 2:30 a.m., Williams advised that he was on the way to pick up his brother’s girlfriend from work. He admitted to speeding and knowing he did not have a driver’s license. He denied having any knowledge of the crystal substance, which later tested positive for fentanyl and cocaine, the report said.
Williams was ultimately charged with possession of cocaine, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license. He was also issued a traffic warning for speeding. He was transported to the Lake County Jail with bond set at $5,500.