Leesburg man found to have narcotics in backpack during traffic stop

A Leesburg man was arrested for drug possession when a traffic stop led to the discovery of narcotics in his backpack.

A deputy observed a dark grey Dodge 1500, an occupant of which was later identified as 32-year-old Zachary Albert Goatee, without taillights traveling northbound on County Road 473 around 1:18 a.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 

The deputy then conducted a traffic stop on the truck. The female driver provided her license while Goatee remained in the passenger seat. The deputy next asked the driver if she would be OK with him searching the vehicle, to which she gave verbal consent, the report said. 

Two deputies searched the vehicle, during which they found a gray backpack on the passenger-side floorboard. Inside was a blue container with a clear plastic baggie containing a white crystal-like substance. There was also a folded $10 bill containing more of the white substance and a blue glass smoking device, the report said. 

A notebook found in the backpack had Goatee’s name written in it and contained his credit card and driver’s license. The driver’s wallet was found on the driver’s seat of the vehicle. A folded receipt was located inside that contained a white cake-like substance, the report said. 

Both parties were detained upon finding the blue container’s contents. Goatee agreed to speak with the deputy but advised he did not know about the bag and that it was not his. He later changed his story to say that he used the bag for work and knew the blue container was inside, the report said. 

The driver also agreed to speak with the deputy. She stated that he got into her vehicle with the backpack, but she did not know what was inside and that it did not belong to her. When questioned about the receipt in her wallet, she stated that she did not know anything of that description was within her wallet, the report said. 

The deputy then tested all substances collected. The clear baggie located within the blue container tested positive for methamphetamine. At the time of the report, further testing was needed for the cake-like substance found within the receipt inside the wallet. 

Due to the backpack and blue container being in Goatee’s possession, he was placed under arrest. However, because further testing was required for the receipt, the driver was released, the report said. 

Goatee was charged with possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The Kentucky native was taken to Lake County Jail and released after posting $3,500 bond.