A California man is facing many charges after he was caught driving an unregistered tow truck with drugs, a gun, and ammunition allegedly found inside.
Late in the evening on October 17, deputies with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office were patrolling when they saw a tow truck carrying an automobile without safety lights.
It was reported that upon further inspection, the police noticed that the truck, which had a Virginia license plate, displayed a registration tag that was not up to date.
The deputies performed a traffic stop, and when they walked up to the window, they asserted that it smelled like marijuana was in the cab.
They identified the driver and learned that he is from Los Angeles.
When the deputies asked the driver about the expired registration, he reportedly told them that he had recently bought the vehicle, and had been unable to come up with the $5000 fee he was required to pay for the tag.
Since they reported that the smell of pot was present, the deputies felt they had probable cause to search the inside of the automobile.
When they looked in the cab, the deputies reported that they “found a Glock handgun openly displayed on the dashboard in front of the driver’s seat and a loaded 30-round magazine next to the driver’s seat.”
The suspect was taken into custody and booked into the Collier County Jail. He is facing several charges including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, open carrying of weapons, possession of marijuana not more than 20 grams, and failure to register a motor vehicle.
He was released the following day after posting bond.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.