Resident of The Villages arrested with cocaine and firearm during traffic stop

A resident of Sunset Pointe was taken into custody after an officer discovered cocaine and a firearm in her possession.

An officer observed 28-year-old Katie Marie Marshall failing to come to a complete stop behind the stop bar as she left 7-Eleven, situated at 16950 U.S. Hwy. 441, around 1:40 a.m. Friday, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department.

The officer got behind her red Ford truck and observed it accelerate to 60 mph in a 50-mph zone. He approached Marshall when the vehicle had come to a stop along Morningside Drive. She indicated that there were no drugs or weapons in the vehicle but refused authorization for a search, so a K-9 unit was dispatched to the area to investigate, according to the report.

Marshall was removed from the vehicle after receiving a positive alert for a search. She then indicated that she was carrying a pistol, which turned out to be a Beretta 9mm handgun, according to the report.

The officer searched her vehicle and discovered a red plastic baggie containing cocaine in her wallet. He also discovered another baggie of cocaine on Marshall’s person, totaling 0.6 grams, according to the report.

Marshall was arrested on allegations of possessing cocaine and a handgun while committing a felony. The Maryland native was taken to Lake County Jail and freed after posting a $3,500 bond.