A homeless man was arrested after giving fake information to officers who later discovered narcotics in his fanny pack near 7-Eleven in Leesburg.
An officer observed 27-year-old Angel Luis Roman Bonilla leave 7-Eleven, located at 737 S. 14th St., and head north on 14th Street on foot around 2:20 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
Another officer approached the gas station to make a purchase. Once he was done, the store clerk advised that he believed Roman Bonilla had been previously trespassed from the property but had been lingering for about three to four hours. He told the other officer about the situation, and they drove north on 14th Street to find him, the report said.
The officers were able to locate Roman Bonilla about a block away at the intersection of South and 14th Streets. He was asked for identification, to which he replied he did not have one. He was instead asked for his name and date of birth, but he gave information that did not come back with an identification, the report said.
Once again, the officers asked Roman Bonilla to give correct information because nothing came back from what was given. He gave the same information, this time writing it down and adding he was from Boston. Dispatch ran a check out of all states, still coming back with no identification, the report said.
Due to the lack of results from the information provided, an officer told dispatch to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to use rapid ID to identify Roman Bonilla. They told him about this while on scene, and he admitted he did have a Florida ID before handing it over. He was then positively identified, the report said.
Dispatch ran a check with his proper information, and it revealed Roman Bonilla had a Lake County warrant for larceny. The active warrant was subsequently confirmed. He was detained, handcuffed, searched and placed in the back of a patrol vehicle, the report said.
Additionally, Roman Bonilla was carrying a backpack and fanny pack with him. A search of those items revealed two separate small baggies in the side pocket of the fanny pack containing a white powdery substance consistent with cocaine. Two field tests came back positive for 0.72 grams of methamphetamine and 1.74 grams of fentanyl, the report said.
Roman Bonilla was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl and false ID to law enforcement officer (arrest or lawfully detained). The native of Puerto Rico was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $8,000.