A Leesburg man who was arrested for drunk driving later admitted that he hid marijuana in his groin area.
An officer on traffic duty at U.S. Hwy. 27 and County Road 25A heard screeching tires around 10 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. He then saw 34-year-old Dwyane Torin Fleming speed by in a black Volkswagen Jetta, swerving from one side of the lane to the other.
The officer paced the vehicle at 70 mph in a 55-mph zone, watching it continue to swerve in the left lane. He initiated a traffic stop, and the vehicle quickly pulled into the grass median and slammed on its brakes at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 27 and County Road 33. Fleming then poked his head out of the door and began looking for law enforcement, the report said.
When asked where he was coming from, Fleming stated, “Up 27,” and did not elaborate. The officer then noticed a yellow ripped baggie with a smaller gray baggie in the center console, prompting him to ask about illegal items such as narcotics. Fleming stated there were none and granted his permission for a search, the report said.
Once other officers arrived on scene, Fleming and the passenger were told to exit the vehicle. However, the baggies on the center console were now missing. Nothing illegal was found in the vehicle during the search, so the two occupants were separated for interviews, the report said.
Both denied knowledge of the baggies in question. While speaking with Fleming, the officer could smell alcohol on his breath. He denied drinking and agreed to participate in field sobriety exercises, the report said.
Fleming then advised that he and the passenger had been drinking at multiple restaurants in Leesburg. This, along with his poor performance, led the officer to conclude he was under the influence. He later provided breath samples of 0.113g/210L and 0.101g/210L, the report said.
He also admitted that he had the missing baggies on his person. Reaching into his pants, he removed them from his groin area. The baggies contained marijuana, the report said.
The New York native was ultimately arrested on charges of possession of marijuana (less than 20 grams), DUI and tampering with evidence. He was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting $4,500 bond.