A Clermont man was arrested after waking up in a stolen rental with a firearm and narcotics in his possession.
An officer responded to the home of 39-year-old Russell Marion Spurlin on Sunset Lane around 8:50 a.m. Friday, March 13, according to an arrest report from the Clermont Police Department. Law enforcement had gotten a ping on a stolen white 2026 Dodge Ram pickup truck that had not been returned to Enterprise out of Osceola County.
Upon arrival, the officers found the vehicle backed into the driveway. One of the officers immediately noticed Spurlin asleep in the passenger seat, and he woke up once the passenger side door opened. He was then detained for further investigation, the report said.
Spurlin advised that the truck was rented by his friend, and he had no idea it was stolen. He had gone out the night prior with his friend, and they parked in the driveway where he fell asleep in the passenger seat, the report said.
A subsequent inventory of the vehicle led to the discovery of a tennis racket with a black cover on the floorboard of the passenger seat. A look inside the cover revealed a loaded Walter PK380 firearm. However, Spurlin had 11 felony convictions, meaning he was not allowed to possess firearms or ammo. He later denied that it was his or any knowledge that it was there, the report said.
The officers then searched Spurlin’s person and located small clear plastic baggies with 0.4 grams of cocaine and 1.4 grams of methamphetamine, the report said.
Spurlin was arrested on charges of two counts of possession of firearm/ammo by convicted felon, cocaine and methamphetamine. He was booked at Lake County Jail and released after posting $25,000 bond.