A Leesburg man was arrested on drug charges when a deputy noticed marijuana on his dashboard during a traffic stop.
A deputy patrolling the area of County Road 44A and Mill Creek Road observed a white Dodge pickup truck go past a stop sign’s solid white bar without coming to a complete stop around 12:26 a.m. Wednesday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The vehicle was subsequently stopped, and the deputy identified the driver, 49-year-old Ralph Lindell Gillmore, by his license. While speaking to him, the deputy noticed what appeared to be a green leafy substance on the dashboard of the truck. He believed it to be marijuana, the report said.
The deputy asked Gillmore if there was anything illegal in the vehicle which he denied, the report said. He was given multiple opportunities to tell the deputy about any illegal narcotics within the vehicle, but he did not do so. The deputy then informed him of his observation, and he replied, “oh the bud.”
Gillmore was removed from the vehicle and informed that it would be searched due to the visible leafy substance. Upon opening the driver’s side door, the deputy observed a white crystal-like substance inside of a clear plastic baggie sitting on the door sill of the vehicle. He believed the substance, which appeared to be crushed almost to a powder form, to be methamphetamine, the report said.
After discovering this, the deputy secured Gillmore in hand restraints. Gillmore stated there was more marijuana inside of a backpack in the vehicle during this process. A search was conducted inside of the backpack, and the deputy indeed found more of the green leafy substance inside of a plastic jar container along with what appeared to be two rolled up “joints,” the report said.
Also in the backpack was a black cylinder canister thought to shred marijuana. Once the top of the canister was removed, the deputy saw more of the leafy substance within. All the substances were field tested and were positive for their respective suspected narcotic, the report said.
Gillmore then advised that he was having a medical crisis, so Lake County EMS was requested for treatment. He was transported to Advent Waterman Hospital, located at 1000 Waterman Way, for further treatment, the report said.
He was taken to Lake County Jail thereafter and charged with possession of methamphetamine, marijuana (less than 20 grams) and drug paraphernalia. He was released after posting $4,500 bond.
