A Wildwood man found sleeping in his car near a Circle K dumpster was arrested after a deputy found crack cocaine in his possession.
A deputy near Circle K, located at 2211 Citrus Boulevard in Leesburg, observed a dark Nissan passenger car in front of the dumpster where there should be no parking around 3:55 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle was stationary the entire time the deputy was in the store, and it was blocking the dumpster. The driver, later identified as 67-year-old Gary Lamar Stephenson, appeared to be asleep with his head sitting in the driver’s seat.
The outside temperature was about 92 degrees, and the windows were partially down with the vehicle turned off. The deputy then made contact with Stephenson who was sleeping in the front seat, the report said.
While the deputy spoke with Stephenson, he was slurring his words and mumbling, causing the deputy to ask him to repeat himself multiple times. The deputy also looked inside the vehicle during this time and noticed small white rock-like substances sitting on the center console to the right of where Stephenson sat. He was the only occupant of the vehicle and its registered owner. Due to training and experience, the deputy believed the substance to be crack cocaine, the report said.
Additionally, the deputy observed Stephenson to be sweating profusely due to the heat. He asked Stephenson if he had any medical concerns, causing him to slur his speech and not remember he was. Stephenson complained, therefore EMS was called to evaluate him for any medical concerns, the report said.
The deputy asked Stephenson where the keys were for the vehicle in the meantime, and he stated they were in the center console while also giving the deputy permission to look inside. At that time, a glass smoking device with a rubber hose attached was found. Inside was a copper wire commonly used as a filter while smoking narcotics, the report said.
The rock-like substance on the center console field tested positive for cocaine, as did the residue on the pipe. An additional container with more white rock-like substance was found on the passenger side of the vehicle which also tested positive for cocaine, the report said.
Stephenson was subsequently arrested and charged with possession of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia. He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $3,500.