Woman stops at green light with cocaine and marijuana in her possession

A Wildwood woman who stopped at a green light was arrested for drug possession when deputies found cocaine and marijuana in her car.

A deputy observed a dark in color 2023 Hyundai Tuscon stopped at a green light near West Main Street and County Road 468 around 12:14 a.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The driver, later identified as 43-year-old Shauna Marie Chapman, sat there for about 10 to 15 seconds before accelerating westbound onto State Road 44 where she was unable to maintain a lane. 

The deputy accelerated to catch up while turning on radar to check Chapman’s speed. It gave a reading of 67 mph in a 45-mph posted zone and continued upwards, reaching a speed of 82 mph in a 55-mph posted zone. The vehicle was still unable to maintain a lane and at one point straddled both lanes of State Road 44 approaching Countryside Boulevard, almost striking another vehicle, the report said. 

As a result, the deputy initiated a traffic stop. He approached the passenger side of the vehicle and met Chapman, who identified herself through her name and date of birth. He then asked her for her driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance to which she stated she was looking for her ATM card while digging through her purse in the passenger seat. She handed the deputy a white container stating it was medical marijuana but did not have her medical marijuana card with her, the report said. 

The deputy returned to his vehicle to complete a citation of Chapman’s speed. Other units arrived on scene, and he went back to Chapman to issue the citation. While speaking with her, she had glossy eyes, slurred speech and was unable to multitask, the report said. 

When asked how much she had to drink, Chapman replied nothing but agreed to perform field sobriety exercises. She was asked to get out of her vehicle which was when the deputy noticed a plastic straw with burnt residue on the driver’s seat. Another deputy observed a wad of tin foil inside Chapman’s purse on the passenger seat, the report said. 

A probable cause search of the vehicle was then conducted. Multiple clear plastic bags were discovered containing about nine grams of cocaine and about 8.9 grams of marijuana. Also found was a small black grinder, five plastic straws with burnt residue and one piece of tin foil with burnt residue, the report said. 

Chapman was subsequently arrested for possession of cocaine, marijuana (less than 20 grams) and drug paraphernalia. The Massachusetts native was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $4,500 bond.