A Leesburg man and a Tavares woman were arrested on drug charges when a K-9 sniffed out narcotics in their vehicle.
A deputy observed the occupants of a red passenger vehicle, later identified as 32-year-old James White and 29-year-old Genoveva Salena Sweeney, sitting still at a stop sign and preparing to turn onto County Road 473 at 4 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
As the deputy passed the vehicle, it pulled out behind him and sped up to 53mph in a 40-mph zone. He allowed the vehicle to pass and moved behind it to get the registration. Upon doing so, White, the driver, immediately used a signal and turned down a nearby dead-end road, the report said.
The deputy turned on his overhead lights to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle continued to slowly roll while the occupants made furtive and suspicious movements. The vehicle ultimately came to a stop after the deputy used his emergency siren, the report said.
The deputy then approached the vehicle and observed White leaning out of the driver’s window. He looked nervous and continued to make movements inside the cabin. After explaining the reason for the stop, the deputy asked for consent to search the vehicle, which was denied, the report said.
As a result, the deputy asked a K-9 unit to respond while he began writing a citation for the speeding violation. The K-9 unit later got to the scene, sniffed around the vehicle and positively alerted to the odor of narcotics near the driver’s side door. Both occupants were removed from the vehicle so it could be searched at that point, the report said.
During said search, a small plastic baggie containing a pink powdery substance was found on the driver’s side floorboard near the center console. This substance tested positive for methamphetamine. On the passenger’s side, a pink bag was located near the center console with two more baggies of methamphetamine, the report said.
A yellow bag discovered beneath the passenger seat contained a silicone smoking device attached to a glass pipe. A baby bottle converted into a smoking device was found in the passenger door pocket. Both devices had visible residue, the report said.
White and Sweeney were detained and placed in separate patrol vehicles. While being handcuffed, Sweeney stated, “Everything in the vehicle is mine, not his.” She admitted to having more contraband hidden on her person that White handed her to hide, the report said.
Sweeney then retrieved a glass smoking device with residue and marijuana from her waistband. She also brought out eight pills, which she identified as suboxone. Since field tests could not confirm their identity, they were submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for laboratory analysis, the report said.
Sweeney further advised that the delay in stopping was due to her trying to hide the items White handed her during the traffic stop, the report said.
White and Sweeney were arrested on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine. They were both transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting their respective $3,500 bonds.