A trio of young men landed behind bars on drug charges after parking outside a Lady Lake apartment with marijuana, cocaine and a stolen gun.
Officers approached a suspicious gray Kia Rio in the parking lot of Rolling Acres Apartments in Lady Lake around 10:35 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department. Its occupants, 21-year-old De’Quante Amari Eugene Denson of Lady Lake, 20-year-old Isaiah Jamal Gray of Belleview, and 18-year-old Matthew Alexander Wing of Weirsdale, were all forthcoming with their information when requested.
A check with dispatch revealed Gray had an arrest warrant for possession of marijuana out of Putnam County, so he was removed from the vehicle. He then advised the officers of a felony amount of marijuana and a hidden firearm in the vehicle. Denson and Wing were subsequently removed from the vehicle, as well, the report said.
As Denson stepped out, the officers noticed a large quantity of marijuana in a bag between the passenger seat and the door. More marijuana sat on a tray on the floorboard. The officers proceeded to search the vehicle, starting with the bag and the tray with 42.73 grams of marijuana, the report said.
In immediate reach of Gray was a black backpack containing his ID, a plastic baggie with 76.42 grams of marijuana, a small scale and $91 in cash. Under the driver’s seat was a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm semi-automatic handgun. It contained one chambered round and a magazine with 11 more rounds. Dispatch confirmed it had been stolen out of Clearwater, the report said.
Another backpack, this time gray and within Wing’s reach, contained a wallet with his social security card and other cards in his name. Officers discovered a plastic baggie with 6.92 grams of cocaine, two plastic baggies of marijuana with a combined weight of 2.88 grams, a metal grinder with 1 gram of marijuana residue, rolling papers, a large scale and $130 in cash, the report said.
All three men were subsequently arrested and booked at the Lake County Jail. Denson was charged with possession of marijuana (more than 20 grams) and drug paraphernalia, and he was released after posting $3,500 bond.
Gray was charged with possession of a stolen firearm, marijuana (more than 20 grams) and drug paraphernalia. He was released after posting $6,500 bond.
Wing was charged with possession of cocaine, marijuana (less than 20 grams) and drug paraphernalia. He was released after posting $4,500 bond.