A Mascotte man and a Fruitland Park woman were both arrested on drug charges while owing child support and having warrants, respectively.
Deputies observed the driver of a white Chevy pickup, later identified as 49-year-old Shaftney Dubois McMullen, and a passenger, later identified as 31-year-old Gabriella Elizabeth Partridge, passing the patrol vehicle at 10:53 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
One of the deputies saw that the vehicle did not have its tag lights on in violation of Florida law, so he got behind the vehicle and drove about one car length away. He temporarily turned off his headlights to confirm that the tag lights did not illuminate the tag from that distance. He then conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Harlem Avenue and Crawford Street, the report said.
McMullen, the driver, told the deputies his name but gave him an incorrect birthday, the report said. He appeared much older than the date given, and he was extremely nervous. He also did not have any identification on his person. Due to deputies suspecting McMullen was trying to conceal his identity and his nervous, fidgety behavior, he was removed from the vehicle.
During this process, one of the deputies noticed a glass smoking device, which is used in the smoking of illegal narcotics, and an orange pill bottle with a faded label. Both the device and the bottle were on the driver’s seat next to the seatbelt lock within arm’s reach of the driver, the report said.
The deputies then searched the bottle and found a baggie containing a white cake-like substance which was suspected to be crack cocaine. They also found a baggie containing a crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine. Another baggie containing a leafy substance suspected to be marijuana was located in a black cloth bag behind the driver’s seat, the report said.
Deputies were able to confirm McMullen’s identity and learned that he tried to provide his son’s date of birth to conceal his identity from law enforcement. That information was used to discover that he had two writs for bodily attachment, or orders of arrest for owing child support. He was subsequently secured and taken into custody, the report said.
While on scene, McMullen complained of chest pain. Lake Fire Recue and EMS thus responded and cleared him to be taken to jail and charged accordingly, the report said.
During the initial contact with the vehicle prior to having McMullen exit the vehicle, one of the deputies asked Partridge for her identification. She advised that she did not have any but gave the name “Hope Dunbar” with a false date of birth, the report said.
However, the deputy recognized Partridge from prior contact and knew her to have a VOP warrant for possession of drug paraphernalia. He confirmed this through his in-car laptop, and she was removed from the vehicle to be secured, the report said.
The deputies then searched Partridge. They found a purple coin purse inside the left pocket of her fleece jacket. Contained in that purse was a glass smoking device and a plastic wrapper with an orange powder suspected to be MDMA, or ecstasy. She also had a silicon lighter leash attached to her belt loop which had a round silicon jar built into it that contained a white cake-like substance, the report said.
Partridge also had a large purse in the vehicle which was inventoried due to the vehicle being towed and the narcotics found on her person. Within the purse, deputies found a metal smoking device, a glass smoking device and a white G-31 pill discovered to be a muscle relaxer, the report said.
Partridge was subsequently taken to jail where she was charged accordingly and the warrant was served, the report said.
The white cake-like substance found on McMullen was tested and came back positive for cocaine. The crystal-like substance tested positive for methamphetamine, and the green leafy substance tested positive for marijuana, the report said.
The white cake-like substance found on Partridge tested positive for cocaine. The orange powder tested positive for MDMA, the report said.
McMullen was charged with possession of methamphetamine, crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia and providing false information to law enforcement officer. He was transported to the Lake County Jail with bond set at $7,196.
Partridge was charged with possession of cocaine, MDMA and drug paraphernalia. She was transported to the Lake County Jail with bond set at $15,000.
