A Lady Lake man was arrested Friday on a charge of possession of marijuana after a traffic stop in Fruitland Park.
A Lake County sheriff’s deputy observed a vehicle driving at what appeared to be 55 miles per hour in a 45 mph posted speed limit on Lake Unity Drive, according to an arrest report. After the deputy clocked the vehicle’s speed and read that it was traveling at 57 mph, the deputy caught up with the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop.
The vehicle attempted to make a u-turn but was blocked in by vehicles parked in a yard, the driver started to open the car door, in which the deputy commanded the driver to stay in the car and show his hands. The driver, later identified as 21-year-old Joshua Raheem O’Neal, showed the deputy his hands but then kept putting them below the door out of the deputy’s sight, attempting to reach for something and was not complying with staying in the vehicle. The deputy drew a sidearm and held O’Neal at gun point, and called for back up. O’Neal exited the vehicle, in which the deputy then gave multiple more loud verbal commands to get O’Neal back in the vehicle, but the driver did not comply. The deputy then commanded O’Neal to put his hand on the roof of the car, at which time he complied and back up arrived on scene. As the deputy was arresting O’Neal a strong odor of marijuana was coming off of O’Neal and out of his vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted, which turned up a marijuana cigarette found in the center console ash tray.
O’Neal was placed under arrest and transported to Lake County Jail. He was released on a posted $1,000 bond.
