Opioids, Methamphetamine Found During Traffic Stops In Winter Haven

WINTER HAVEN, FL — During three routine traffic stops, Winter Haven police said they were able to take a significant amount of illegal drugs off the city's streets this week.

According to the Winter Haven police, on Dec. 17 at 7:40 p.m., 50 year-old Douglas Smith of 109 2nd St. N, Winter Haven was riding his motorized bicycle when he ran a stop sign at the intersection of 24th Street Southwest and Avenue D Southwest.

Officers said they attempted to stop Smith, however, he continued on until he fell off the bike. He then attempted to pedal away since the bike would not start back up. Police detained him after a short foot chase. Inside a zippered bag on the bike, police said they found 5.7 grams of fentanyl, well over the .2 grams that are considered potentially lethal. Also inside the bag was methamphetamine, police said.

Smith was out on bond for a May arrest for trafficking methamphetamine. He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with trafficking fentanyl, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest without violence.

On Wednesday at 7:53 p.m., police said 70-year-old Philip Arter of 1908 Fruitland Park Circle, Eagle Lake, was driving a silver Toyota along Highway 17 at Cypress Gardens Boulevard when police noticed he was not wearing a seatbelt. Police stopped him and a K-9 alerted officers to the presence of narcotics. When police searched the car, they said they found 5.3 grams of oxycodone pills and .9 grams of methamphetamine.

Arter was booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of possessing oxycodone, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Also on Wednesday, 47-year-old Juan Lamas, who is homeless, was seen by police riding his bike on the wrong side of the road toward oncoming traffic at 7th Street Southwest and Post Avenue Southwest.

Officers said, when they approached Lamas, he dropped a baggie next to the back wheel of the bike. Inside the baggie, police said they found .8 grams of fentanyl.

As police tried to handcuff Lamas, they said he pulled away and rammed his head repeatedly into one of the officers. He was eventually taken to the ground and placed in handcuffs, police said.

He was booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of possession of fentanyl, resisting arrest with violence, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

"Once again, our officers are dedicated and working hard to get dangerous drugs off the streets of Winter Haven," said Police Chief David Brannan. "This is not the first rodeo for all three of these men and we will continue to do everything we can to combat those who choose to endanger our community with these deadly drugs."