WINTER HAVEN, FL — More than 77 grams of cannabis were removed from the streets of Winter Haven this week, thanks to the brave officers of the Winter Haven Police Department, who saved the community from two mason jars of weed and some MDMA/ecstasy pills during a late-night traffic stop.
Just before midnight Wednesday, Sept. 16, Winter Haven Police officers conducting proactive patrol stopped a 2017 Genesis on First Street North after reportedly observing the vehicle continuously swerving out of its lane.
The driver, 20-year-old Dseanna Strange of Dundee, told officers she was following her GPS and did not know where to turn, causing her to swerve. Passenger Quan Shuler, 22, of Sebring, was not wearing a seatbelt and appeared nervous, according to police.
When officers asked whether there were any illegal substances inside the vehicle, police said Shuler retrieved a cigarette from the floorboard near his feet and responded, “Just this blunt.”
The substance appeared to be cannabis, and neither occupant indicated they had a medical marijuana card. Officers then searched the vehicle and reported detecting a strong odor of cannabis coming from the trunk.
Inside a green and purple backpack in the trunk, officers found two large mason jars containing multiple baggies of a green leafy substance that tested positive for cannabis. Police said the cannabis weighed a total of 77.1 grams. A digital scale was also recovered.
Officers also found an unlabeled pill bottle containing multiple pills, including MDMA/Ecstasy. Police said Shuler acknowledged that the backpack belonged to him.
Shuler was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of possession of cannabis with intent to sell, possession of MDMA/Ecstasy, possession of more than 20 grams of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Strange was issued a traffic citation for failure to drive in a single lane. Nothing further.
SOURCE: WINTER HAVEN POLICE DEPARTMENT
