A K-9 assisted Lady Lake police in a traffic stop Friday which resulted in the arrest of a 30-year-old Howey-in-the-Hills man.
Derek M. Stephens had been a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over for having a tinted windshield at about 7 p.m. on U.S. Hwy. 27/4411 and Temple Hill Road. A K-9 alerted on the vehicle, indicating the presence of drugs. A backpack found at Stephens’ feet was found to contain a digital scale, a straw and several bags of drugs.
Stephens was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of codeine, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked at the Lake County Jail on $8,000 bond.
The female driver of the vehicle completed a sworn statement indicating Stephens brought the backpack into her vehicle.