A Clermont man was arrested when an officer noticed cocaine powder on his nostrils during a traffic stop.
An officer called out over the radio about a white Volvo SUV that refused to pull over for a traffic stop at 5:10 p.m. Saturday, March 28, according to an arrest report from the Clermont Police Department. Another officer heard this and spotted the driver, 61-year-old Chao Yang Xia, heading west on U.S. Hwy. 50.
The vehicle drove slower than the surrounding traffic, and yet did not maintain its lane. It kept this pace until eventually stopping at Ford of Clermont Parts, located at 1101 E Hwy. 50, where Xia seemed to be confused about his surroundings. He looked disoriented when the officer asked for his license, registration and insurance, the report said.
After a short time, Xia handed over a permanent residency card and the vehicle’s registration. The officer then asked for EMS due to concerns for his well-being and complaints of chest pain. It was then that the officer noticed white powdery residue on Xia’s nostrils, the report said.
A closer look around his vehicle revealed the same powder scattered throughout the interior. Residue sat next to a small plastic vial on the floorboard of the driver’s seat, in the gear shifter, and in the passenger seat. Xia claimed he had taken medicine, but the substance tested positive for cocaine, the report said.
Xia was arrested on charge of possession of cocaine and booked at the Lake County Jail. He was released after posting $2,500 bond.