SEAT BELT VIOLATION LEADS TO DRUG ARRESTS

A CHARLOTTE COUNTY STREET CRIMES DEPUTY MADE A TRAFFIC STOP FRIDAY MORNING FOR A SEAT BELT VIOLATION WHICH TURNED INTO A COCAINE BUST.  DEPUTIES SAY THE STOP WAS MADE AT KINGS HIGHWAY AND WESTCHESTER BOULEVARD JUST BEFORE 9:30AM.  THE DEPUTY SMELLED BURNT MARIJUANA AS SHE APPROACHED THE DRIVER, 26 YEAR OLD JUSTIN KLINE OF PORT CHARLOTTE, AND HE AND THE PASSENGER, 26 YEAR OLD ENRIQUE RAMON OF LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA WERE ASKED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR.  KLINE LOCKED THE DOOR REFUSING TO GIVE THE DEPUTY PERMISSION TO SEARCH THE CAR, BUT BECAUSE OF THE MARIJUANA SMELL IT GAVE THEM PROBABLE CAUSE TO SEARCH IT ANYWAY.  THEY FOUND A DUFFEL BAG WITH A LARGE QUANTITY OF COCAINE ALONG WITH AN OXYCODONE PILL.  DURING THE SEARCH, RAMON COLLAPSED AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE PEACE RIVER REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER.  DURING THE RIDE, RAMON BEGAN RESISTING AND HAD TO BE TASED FOUR TIMES BEFORE SETTLING DOWN.  HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. DEPUTIES BOOKED BOTH MEN ON MULTIPLE DRUG CHARGES, AND THEY ARE BEING HELD WITHOUT BOND DUE TO THEIR CRIMINAL HISTORY, AS THIS WAS RAMON’S SEVENTH BOOKING AND KLINE’S SEVENTEENTH.