Stolen tire leads to major drug bust in Florida
by Andy Coffey | Sep 29, 2017 | Drug Charges, Firm News
On Sept. 14, law enforcement officials in Florida recovered more than 360 grams of methamphetamine following an alleged burglary involving a tire. Police say that the confiscated meth has a street value of more than $14,000 and represents the largest drug bust ever achieved by the Fort Myers Police Department. Two men were taken into custody in Lee County in connection with the incident. Trials for both men are scheduled to begin on Oct. 16.
The incident began in a shopping center parking lot where a woman reported a stolen tire. Sources indicate that two men used a tire iron to remove the item from the woman's Toyota before leaving the scene in another vehicle with the alleged stolen property. The woman's children, who witnessed the incident, told responders that the alleged burglars were traveling in a Toyota with a spare tire when they left the scene.
After canvassing the area, police located the parked Toyota. A tire jack and a tire without a hubcap were nearby. In addition to the meth, a search of the vehicle revealed more than 47 grams of marijuana packaged in baggies, digital scales, suspected drug paraphernalia and two boxes of ammunition. Police detained a 20-year-old man, a 24-year-old man and one minor at the scene. The minor was later released to the custody of her grandmother.
The 20-year-old man is facing a variety of serious drug charges. Because drug crimes carry serious consequences if a conviction is obtained, people who are in this type of a situation may want to meet with a criminal defense attorney to discuss the strategy for combating the allegations.
Source: NBC 2, "Largest meth bust for FMPD comes from stolen tire", Joshua Clay, Sept. 21, 2017