A Citra woman charged last year with beating up her live-in boyfriend was arrested again last week in Anthony on charges of DUI and possession of drug equipment.
At around 5 p.m. Wednesday, at the 9400 block of NE 21st Avenue in Anthony, a Marion County sheriff’s deputy pulled over a silver Jeep SUV that matched the description of a vehicle associated with a burglary that happened just few blocks away. The deputy spoke with the driver – Cassie Renee Clifford, 39, of 1769 NE 161st Place – and immediately smelled an overwhelming odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The deputy noticed several indicators of impairment and asked Clifford to step out of the vehicle. While walking back to the deputy’s vehicle, Clifford said she had smoked “a joint” prior to driving. She failed a series of field sobriety exercises due to her level of impairment and was placed under arrest, the report said.
A search of Clifford’s vehicle turned up a black cloth Crown Royal bag containing a multi-colored grinder with marijuana residue, a clear plastic bag with a white residue, a pill bottle with Clifford’s name containing four clonazepan pills, a pack of Marlboro cigarettes and a pack of French white rolling paper, according to the report.
After being read her Miranda warning, Clifford claimed ownership of the bag and its contents. The residue inside the grinder tested positive for THC, while the crystal residue inside the plastic bag tested positive for methamphetamine, the report said.
Clifford was taken to the Marion County Jail, where she refused to provide a urine sample. A certified drug recognition expert evaluated her and determined she was impaired and unable to operate a vehicle safely, according to the report.
Clifford was released Thursday on $2,000 bond.