Published on Wednesday, December 14, 2005
in the Lake City Reporter

Three nabbed in Winter's Fury

Three men were arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol for drug possession traveling through Columbia County on Interstate 75 on Friday during FHP's Operation: Winter's Fury, which took place between Dec. 5 and Dec. 9.

The first arrest took place at 12:05 p.m. on I-75 near mile marker 409 in southern Columbia County. Trooper Daniel Caulk of the Florida Highway Patrol made a traffic stop on two vehicles for illegal homemade tags. Both vehicles were unregistered and uninsured.

The drivers of the vehicles were Jonathan Smith, 50, and Teddrick Hughes, 34, both of Valdosta, Ga. Both vehicles belonged to Hughes.

“These drug arrests took place during FHP's Operation: Winter's Fury,” said Lt. Mike Burroughs, public information officer for Troop B of the Florida Highway Patrol. “This was a statewide operation that different departments could participate in. We felt that drug dealers are more prone to mistakes because they're trying to earn Christmas money. We make an attempt to take advantage of that during this time period.”

According to FHP reports, Smith had never had a driver's license and Hughes had repeated license suspensions.

Both drivers were arrested for driver's license and unregistered vehicle charges.

During a search of the vehicle, two drug pipes, almost

2 grams of cocaine and

35 Oxycodone pills were found.

Hughes was then charged with possession of cocaine, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of Oxycodone, possession of legend drugs, uttering forgery for homemade tag, driving with license suspended and unregistered motor vehicle.

Smith was charged with possession of cocaine less than a gram, possession of drug paraphernalia and no driver's license.

A few hours later, at approximately 3:47 p.m., Trooper Timothy Strickland conducted a traffic stop on

I-75 at mile marker 413 for illegal window tint.

During the stop, the driver, Trez William McNeal, 25, of Tallahassee, was “extremely nervous,” according to FHP reports.

A K-9 search was performed by troopers and revealed 90 grams of cocaine, 52 MDMA (Ecstasy) pills, two grams of marijuana and related drug paraphernalia.

McNeal was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine, trafficking in cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, possession with intent to sell, conspiracy to traffick, possession of MDMA pills, trafficking in MDMA, possession of MDMA with intent to deliver, possession of MDMA with intent to sell, felony possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.