A pair from Crystal River were arrested for driving with a suspended license and cocaine found in a laptop.
Troopers observed 52-year-old Christopher Edward Smeltz driving a white 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 northbound on Florida’s Turnpike in Leesburg around 1:50 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Florida Highway Patrol. The passenger, 31-year-old Savannah Lynn Holt, saw the troopers behind her and started making furtive movements, nearly standing in her seat while peering at them through the rear window.
Smeltz began following too closely to the vehicle in front of them, and at the speeds being traveled, he could not have stopped in time to avoid a collision. He then made a quick lane change to pass a disabled vehicle on the right shoulder before moving back into the outside lane. The report noted he slowed below the 70 mph speed limit prior to being stopped just south of the exit ramp for Mile Marker 296.
While getting out of his vehicle, a trooper saw Smeltz look through the left rear mirror of the car and wave at him, which was unusual. He immediately showed signs of nervousness and did not have a form of ID. He also had his seatbelt pre-fastened underneath him rather than wearing it, the report said.
A check of his driving history later revealed he had 10 previous convictions for driving while license suspended and 10 previous suspensions on his license. Other traffic offenses included failures to appear, unpaid financial obligations, DUIs and controlled substance charges, the report said.
Meanwhile, a K-9 unit responded to the scene and positively alerted to the odor of narcotics. A subsequent search of the vehicle yeilded a laptop in a bag. Opening the laptop revealed a substantial amount of cocaine. The laptop was determined to belong to Holt due to “Savvi Savage” being inscribed on it with marker, which was a name she went by, the report said.
Due to this, she was handcuffed and put in the back of a patrol vehicle. But she started to sit up and used her foot to maneuver something in her vagina. She moved around for some time before sitting back in a normal position, the report said.
She was ultimately moved into the back of a different patrol vehicle where she stated she started her menstrual cycle. She asked for napkins to avoid the bleeding, but there were none available, the report said.
Once at Lake County Jail, a full-body scan was conducted. The initial scan showed two smoking pipes with the stems facing down in her vagina. Deputies were able to retrieve the two glass pipes, commonly used to smoke methamphetamine and other narcotics. She was ultimately taken to AdventHealth Waterman, located at 2200 Waterman Way, Tavares, for medical evaluation and released, the report said.
Smeltz was arrested on charge of driving while license suspended (third or subsequent violation). He was released from Lake County Jail after posting $2,500 bond.
Holt was charged with possession of cocaine, three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, obstruction without violence, two counts of introduction of contraband into corrections facility and two counts of tampering with physical evidence. The Michigan native was taken to jail and released after posting $13,500 bond.