A suspicious person complaint at a Leesburg store early on the morning of June 3 led to the arrest of a Mount Dora man on felony drug and misdemeanor paraphernalia charges, authorities said.
Michael Aaron Moore, 32, was taken into custody at 2:58 a.m. near a business in the 36000 block of Emeralda Avenue after a Lake County sheriff’s deputy responded to the scene to investigate.
Upon arrival, the responding deputy observed Moore and an acquaintance near the front of a store with their belongings—including backpacks and baseball cards—scattered across the ground. Moore initially told the deputy that the individual with him had “smoked some drugs” and was potentially experiencing a medical episode.
During the investigation, the deputy noticed a small, clear plastic bag containing a fine white powder sitting on top of a black backpack Moore confirmed the black backpack belonged to him.
According to the arrest affidavit, Moore later admitted to authorities that the white powder was fentanyl and stated that it had come from his bag. While detained in a patrol vehicle, Moore also advised that he might have a “destroyed syringe” and additional fentanyl in his pocket, though a subsequent search of his person did not yield further items.
Deputies also recovered burnt foil and a clear glass pipe, which are typically used for drug consumption, from the area where Moore had been sitting. Authorities noted that Moore initially denied taking fentanyl that evening, claiming instead that he “smoked ice,” but he ultimately claimed full ownership of the property, drugs, and paraphernalia.
Moore was charged with possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl) and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Lake County Jail without incident, where his total bond was set at $3,500.