A Minneola man was arrested after throwing cocaine out of his window during a traffic stop on the Florida Turnpike.
George Parks, 51, passed a trooper in a dark Mercedes-Benz SUV on the Florida Turnpike in Clermont around 9:55 a.m., Thursday, April 2, according to an arrest report from the Florida Highway Patrol. The vehicle was now less than 30 ft directly behind another car, following too closely in an unsafe manner.
Due to this, the trooper began to overtake the vehicle for a traffic stop. It then abruptly went from left to right without a signal, directly in front of a commercial motor vehicle, to impede the flow of traffic. The vehicle proceeded to cut back into the left lane, the report said.
The trooper activated his emergency lights at that point, to which the vehicle turned on the right signal but would not pull over. It stayed in the right lane and passed several spots where it could have safely pulled over. At the same time, the trooper saw a clear plastic bag come out of the vehicle, the report said.
Multiple pieces of what looked like cocaine were being thrown out of the window, and it was apparent that Parks was trying to destroy evidence. He then pulled into a construction zone, where more suspected cocaine was being thrown out of the driver’s side window. Parks was ultimately boxed in by responding units and ordered out of his vehicle at gunpoint, the report said.
Once Parks was detained, the trooper picked up pieces of cocaine on the roadway next to his vehicle. There was also residual cocaine all over the door and the door handle on the driver’s side, as well as Parks’ shirt and pants. Multiple pieces of cocaine sat on the center console, front seats and driver’s side floorboard, the report said.
Parks was arrested on charges of tampering with evidence, resisting arrest and possession of cocaine. He was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting $5,500 bond.