An Ocala man and his companion were apprehended on narcotics charges after their vehicle was found to have foil, chopped straws, and fentanyl.
An officer stopped 27-year-old Daniel Patrick Simpson, 29-year-old Johnny Shayne Simpson, and a female passenger at Dixie Avenue and Miller Street around 12:35 a.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department. Their silver Ford SUV had crossed into the bicycle lane, resulting in the traffic stop.
Johnny, the driver, did not have a license. While he searched for it, the officer focused his attention on Daniel, who appeared nervous in the backseat. He lied during the chat, claiming to be 26 years old, according to the investigation.
At this point, the officer observed a partly burned marijuana cigarette in front of the car’s radio. He also noticed a black Glock-style weapon, subsequently identified as a BB imitation, on the back center console. According to the report, all three occupants were then removed from the vehicle and detained for further investigation.
The officer then requested Daniel’s information, to which he provided a fictitious name. His actions suggested that he was not telling the truth, so the officer informed him that he could be arrested for lying about his name. According to the report, he continued to give the same name.
The officer then investigated Johnny’s criminal history and discovered that he had an active arrest warrant out of Marion County for felony violence. He also had 18 previous suspensions, revocations, and cancellations on his driver’s license. In fact, on October 22, 2015, his license was canceled for fleeing to avoid police authorities. He also had seven past convictions for driving with a suspended license, according to the report.
Shortly after the discovery, the police requested permission to check the other passenger’s vehicle. She consented, but there was a clear internal conflict. As a result, the officer deployed his K-9 companion, who responded positively to the odor of narcotics, according to the report.
During the subsequent search, the officer discovered a black zipped pouch in the passenger door pocket, which included a plastic straw containing suspected drug residue. The packet also contained a piece of foil with a brown residue on it, which he assumed was fentanyl. According to the report, there was a knapsack in the backseat with Johnny’s wallet and a glass pipe with methamphetamine traces.
On the front seat, several pieces of foil and a cut plastic straw were visible. The straw appeared to have been burned and had suspected drug traces. According to the report, one of the pieces of foil included multiple bits of an unknown drug, either fentanyl or crack cocaine.
According to the report, the officer discovered a small rucksack that had dropped from Daniel’s person as he exited the vehicle. It contained a wallet and an ID card bearing his genuine identity.
Giving this information to dispatch revealed that Daniel had an active warrant out of Marion County for possession of drug paraphernalia. When queried about the warrant, Daniel confirmed it, explaining that it was the reason he lied about his name. A check of his person turned up a piece of foil with suspected fentanyl residue, as well as a sliced and burned plastic straw, according to the report.
While speaking with the passenger about her knowledge of Johnny’s drug use, Daniel responded, “We do a good job of hiding it,” according to the report.
Daniel was detained on allegations of possessing drug paraphernalia and giving a false name to a law enforcement officer. He was booked into Lake County Jail, and bond was set at $2,000.
Johnny was arrested for possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving with a suspended or revoked license. He was hauled into jail, and bond was set at $11,000.
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