A Leesburg man was arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop in which a K-9 sniffed out hidden narcotics.
An officer observed the driver of a bronze Hyundai SUV, later identified as 38-year-old George Luis Aguilera, speeding southbound on U.S. Highway 27/441 north of the intersection with Cooke Street around 8:52 a.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department.
The officer checked the vehicle’s speed using a radar which displayed a reading of 60 mph in a posted 50-mph zone. He watched the vehicle quickly slow down significantly upon approaching where the officer was positioned. Once safe, the officer left the median and maneuvered his way toward the vehicle, the report said.
At that point, a check of the vehicle’s license plate revealed it to habitually flee from law enforcement as seen through local involvements. Therefore, when stopped at the intersection, the officer positioned his patrol vehicle next to the Hyundai to gain a clear view of the driver. He moved directly behind the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop using his emergency lights and siren, the report said.
The officer then approached the vehicle and instructed Aguilera to remove the keys from the ignition. They were placed on top of the vehicle, reducing the risk of the vehicle fleeing. The officer explained the reason for the stop, to which Aguilera stated he did not realize how fast he was going, the report said.
The officer noticed Aguilera and the male passenger showed nervous behavior, such as profuse sweating despite the 60-degree weather, avoidance of eye contact and shaky hands. He also observed a strong odor of what he was familiar with as marijuana. Based on the vehicle history, the occupants’ narcotics history and the behaviors shown, the officer requested a K-9 unit respond to the scene, the report said.
Aguilera also advised that he did not have a license. A check of it revealed he had seven suspensions dating back to 2021, several of which were for failing to pay traffic fines. A criminal history check showed he had three previous guilty convictions for knowingly driving while license suspended, the report said.
Therefore, a criminal citation for driving while license suspended (second or subsequent offense) was drafted with a mandatory court date of Dec. 4, which Aguilera signed in acknowledgement and agreed to appear, the report said.
During the investigation, a K-9 conducted a free-air sniff around the outside of the vehicle, and it positively alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from inside. Both occupants were removed from the vehicle so a probable cause search could be fulfilled, the report said.
Burnt straws with residue were found within the driver’s door pocket, in the cup holder in the center front seat and in a case inside a gray backpack at the rear of the vehicle. Inside the top portion of the center console lid, about 0.1-gram worth of crystalline substance was scattered. This was field tested, which resulted in a presumptive positive for methamphetamine, the report said.
Based on the evidence of narcotics usage located within the vehicle, each occupant was searched. Clenched in Aguilera’s fist inside of a piece of paper towel was a piece of burnt foil with a yellow, wax-like residue. A small plastic baggie containing 3.7 grams of a brown powdery substance was found inside the lining of his hat, and it tested positive for fentanyl, the report said.
The report noted that while being placed in the back of a patrol vehicle, Aguilera asked what his charges were. When told, he spontaneously replied, “I thought it was cocaine, not fentanyl.”
Aguilera was ultimately charged with possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia and knowingly driving while license suspended (second or subsequent). He was also issued a warning for the speed violation. The native of Colombia was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $4,500 bond.