Welfare Check on Individual Sleeping in Vehicle Leads to Drug Trafficking Arrest

Posted: May 13, 2022

On May 13, 2022, just before 4:30 a.m., officers conducted a welfare check on an individual that was found sleeping in their vehicle in the parking lot of Downtown Gatorz, located at 502 King Street. The individual, later identified as Jeremy Allen Jones of Port Charlotte, acted suspiciously and pulled out a large amount of cash tied in rubber bands from the center console when asked if he had identification.

Jones consented to a search of his vehicle. Officers located a gym bag in the backseat area of the vehicle behind the center console. When the bag was opened, an unknown powdery substance blew into an officer’s face. The officer was transported to the hospital for evaluation. Upon further inspection the bag was found to contain more than 497 grams of methamphetamine and 133 grams of crack cocaine packaged in individual bags for resale. In addition, the bag contained more than 65 grams of marijuana, four hydrocodone pills, an unknown brown powdery substance, an unknown multicolored substance, digital scales, cellphones, and small plastic bags. During a search of the rest of the vehicle officers located more than $7,600 in cash in small bills packaged and separated by denomination in rubber bands.

The officer was not injured during the incident and was released from the hospital after observation. Jones was placed under arrest, transported to the Charlotte County Jail, and charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Sell, Possession of a Controlled Substance without a Prescription, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The unknown substances will be sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime lab for analysis.