One bad turn: Winter Haven traffic stop spirals into felony drug bust for trio
Story by Jake Grissom • 16h
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A simple traffic violation Monday night turned into a significant drug bust for Winter Haven police, landing three people behind bars on a slew of felony charges.
The incident began around 9:28 p.m. when a patrol officer spotted a black Jeep Gladiator making an improper left turn onto First St. N near Ave. R NE. When the officer approached the vehicle to speak with the driver, the stop quickly shifted from a traffic citation to a narcotics investigation.
According to the arrest report, officers found 73-year-old Theodore Parker of Haines City behind the wheel. While speaking with Parker, police reportedly spotted a glass pipe sitting in plain view in the center console.
Officers removed all three occupants from the Jeep. As Parker stepped out, a white, rock-like substance fell from the driver’s seat onto the floorboard. Police said the substance tested positive for cocaine, establishing probable cause to search the entire vehicle.
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