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Highlands Today

Man charged with drugs after deputy offers him a ride home

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: November 3, 2009

SEBRING - A local law enforcement officer offered a Lake Placid resident a ride home late Friday night but ended up arresting him for allegedly possessing cocaine.

Kelly Suarez Alvarez, 39, of 219 Blue Moon Ave., was also charged with a misdemeanor offense of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from jail Saturday on a $1,500 bond.
Highlands County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Weed stopped Alvarez's vehicle and cited him for driving with a suspended license.

Since he could not lawfully drive from the stop, the deputy offered to drive Alvarez to his brother's home in downtown Sebring, according to the arrest report.

Before Alvarez could get into the patrol car, Weed said he would have to search him for any illegal items. The suspect reportedly gave his permission.

"Upon looking inside the defendant's right front pants pocket, I observed a small pink plastic baggie with a white powder inside it which I identified as powder cocaine from my past training and experience," Weed wrote in the report.
Alvarez was then arrested on the drug charges.

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

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