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Highlands Today

Arrest For Drug, Theft Charges Follow Attempted Shoplifting

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: January 11, 2009

SEBRING - A local man remained in jail Friday on no bond after being charged with a number of counts following his Thursday arrest for shoplifting.
Justin Thomas Weinel, 20, of 4006 Loretta Ave., Sebring, is charged with tampering with evidence, petty theft, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officers with the Sebring Police Department were sent to a local supermarket in reference to a shoplifter in custody complaint. The assistant store manager said he had seen Weinel, with a Clear Eyes Eye Drops box "cuffed" in his right hand in a manner of concealing it.

The manager said he next saw the suspect throw the box onto a shelf. When it was recovered, the eye drops were not inside, according to the arrest report. Weinel was eventually contacted within the store and asked to come to the main office. At that time, he allegedly took the eye drops out of his pocket and threw it onto a table.

Once he was placed under arrest, Weinel was searched by law enforcement, who reportedly found a gold-colored metal smoking pipe and a box of blackberry-flavored cigarette rolling papers. The pipe was field tested and came back positive for THC, the substance found in marijuana.

The subject was put into the patrol vehicle and, upon the officer's return, the smell of marijuana was detected within, the report stated. The officer asked Weinel if he had any other cannabis in his possession, to which the suspect responded "No."

As the officer took Weinel to the Highlands County Jail, he reportedly asked him two more times if he had anything else in his possession or had left anything in the patrol vehicle. The subject again said he didn't have anything.

After Weinel was released to detention deputies for arrest processing, SPD Officer Sean Bueford, who made the arrest, reportedly found a clear plastic bag beneath the left rear floorboard with a "green, leafy residue" inside. It field tested positive for THC.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at 863-386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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