REGARDING DRUG ARREST

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Posted by: Staff
Date: Sep 19 2022 11:43 AM

?MARIANNA FLA:On Monday September 19, 2022 at approximately 1:40 am, a Marianna Police Officer observed a white passenger vehicle traveling south on Hwy 73 north. As the vehicle approached the intersection of Hwy 73 north and Lafayette St., it failed to stop at the posted stop sign. The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle on Lafayette St. near Pennsylvania Ave. The Officer then contacted the driver and immediately detected a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. The officer asked the driver and passenger to exit the vehicle so that a probable cause search could be conducted.

Upon a search of the vehicle, the officer located a loaded 9mm handgun lying on the floor in the rear passenger compartment. The officer also located a clear bag of suspected marijuana and a black wallet in the glove compartment. Inside the wallet, officers located 7 plastic baggies. One baggie contained a pill which was identified as Oxycodone, which is a controlled substance. The other 6 baggies contained white powder which later field tested positive for cocaine. An El Salvadorian identification card which belonged to Carlos Rodriguez was also located inside the black wallet. Rodriguez was determined to be the passenger, as well as the registered owner of the vehicle.

While conducting a search of the trunk of the vehicle, a black suit case was located. Inside the suitcase the officer located a plastic Tupperware container which contained suspected marijuana which field tested positive for the presence of THC. Upon further search, the officer located a black garbage bag which contained a clear zip lock bag. The zip lock bag contained a large amount of crystal-like substance which field tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. This bag contained nearly a pound of methamphetamine.

Both the driver, who was identified as Francisco Velazquez, and Rodriquez were placed under arrest. It was determined that Velazquez did not, and never had possessed a valid driver’s license.

Due to the location of the items, in proximity of where Rodriquez was seated inside the vehicle at the time of the stop, as well as being the owner of the vehicle, he was charged with possession of the illegal items.

The weight of the methamphetamine located during the search was approximately 444 grams.

The weight of the marijuana located during the search was approximately 29.9 grams.

The weight of the cocaine located during the search was approximately .5 grams.

Francisco Velazquez was charged with driving with no valid driver’s license.

Carlos Rodriquez was charged with the following offenses:

-Possession of firearm in commission of felony

-Trafficking Methamphetamine over 400 grams

-Possession of Cocaine

-Possession of Controlled Substance

-Possession of Greater than 20 grams Marijuana.

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