7-Eleven parking lot crash leads to arrest of suspect wanted on Orange County warrant

A Rockledge man was arrested after his involvement in a crash in a 7-Eleven parking lot led to the discovery of cocaine in his possession.

An officer responded to the 7-Eleven parking lot, located at 2058 U.S. Hwy. 27/441, to assist a K-9 unit with a crash he witnessed around 9 p.m. Friday, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department. 

Upon arrival, the officer was advised that the driver of a white pickup truck, later identified as 44-year-old Michael Anthony Hines, had an active warrant out of Orange County for larceny. He was then detained, the report said. 

The officer noticed that Hines was showing signs of narcotics use, specifically stimulants. Hines stated there were no narcotics within the vehicle, which he owned, but he did not consent to a search, the report said. 

As the officer was waiting with Hines for the confirmation of the warrant, the K-9 officer deployed his trained narcotic K-9 partner to conduct a free-air sniff outside the vehicle. He positively alerted to the odor of narcotics from within the vehicle, the report said. 

The officer then conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and found a silver magnetic tray inside of a larger black and silver magnetic tray, both of which contained white powdery residue. In the larger container, about one gram of a white powdery substance was located, which tested positive for cocaine. Additionally, multiple cut straws with a white powdery substance were seen throughout the vehicle, which also tested positive for cocaine, the report said. 

Hines was subsequently arrested and charged with possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. The Ohio native was transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $6,000 bond.