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Published on Friday, December 5, 2003
in the Port Charlotte Sun-Herald
A dual effort by the Florida Highway Patrol's Contraband Interdiction Unit and the local multi-jurisdictional drug task force produced three arrests, a pile of marijuana and some crack cocaine.
According to reports from the FHP and DeSoto County Sheriff's Office:
FHP Trooper Michael Merritt stopped a vehicle for speeding on State Road 70 near Florida Avenue. Merritt wrote that he saw quite a bit of movement inside the vehicle, which oftentimes leads investigators to think drugs are involved.
As he approached the vehicle, driven by Ryan D. Tompkins, 24, Merritt wrote that he noticed a strong odor of burning marijuana coming from the car. Shortly after, FHP Trooper J. Eason arrived and approached the passenger side of the vehicle.
Eason also noticed the smell of drugs and found marijuana residue on the shirt of the passenger, Lildreco Tompkins, 23. A second passenger, Nikia Hatcher, gave a false name and was found with a container of crack cocaine in his pants pocket. Officers found a cylinder containing more crack cocaine inside the vehicle and another baggie containing the drug in the vehicle's drink holder.
Also located on the subjects was $700 in cash on Hatcher; and $600 in cash on Lildreco Tompkins. Both also had outstanding felony warrants.
All three were placed under arrest and taken to the DeSoto County Jail by the DeSoto County Drug Task Force.
Lildreco Tompkins was charged with violation of probation stemming from the sale and possession of cocaine, driving while license is suspended or revoked and leaving the scene of an accident. He was also charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and giving a false name.
Hatcher was arrested on the charge of violation of probation stemming from a failure to appear charge on possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, resisting arrest without violence, possession and sale of cocaine and battery on a law enforcement officer. In addition, Hatcher was charged with possession of cocaine and giving a false name.
Ryan Tompkins was charged with driving while license is suspended, possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana.