A Fruitland Park man was arrested on drug charges after an officer discovered baggies containing methamphetamine in his vehicle during a traffic stop for speeding.
According to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department, an officer spotted a red Chevy pickup truck speeding northbound on U.S. Hwy. 27/441 around 2:05 a.m. Friday. The driver, later identified as 31-year-old Geoffrey Michael Crane, was traveling at 57 miles per hour in a 45-mph zone, as confirmed by radar.
The officer initiated a traffic stop using lights and sirens, but Crane continued driving northbound, making furtive movements and reaching into the back seat. The vehicle eventually stopped at Hartsock Sawmill Road and U.S. Hwy. 27/441. Crane persisted in making suspicious movements until the officer ordered him to turn off the vehicle and keep his hands visible.
Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer noticed a clear plastic baggie in the driver’s side door pocket containing a clear crystalline residue. A search of the immediate area revealed a crushed cold Mike’s Hard alcoholic drink on the backseat floorboard. After the search, a K-9 unit was deployed, which positively alerted to the odor of narcotics around the vehicle.
A subsequent search yielded another baggie with a crystalline substance in the center console, and a field test confirmed the presence of methamphetamine. Crane was found with a glass smoking device containing cloudy burnt residue in his left front pocket, along with a broken glass smoking device.
Despite the evidence, Crane denied possessing any illegal narcotics when questioned. He was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, then transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $3,500.
