The Ocala Police Department arrested a 43-year-old homeless man near the SunTran bus station located at 531 NE 1st Avenue after several drugs were found in his possession.
On Tuesday, May 9, an OPD officer observed a man, identified in the arrest report as Michael William Maatta, seated near a dumpster at the southwest corner of the SunTran station.
The officer made contact with Maatta and observed that he was sitting in close proximity to several bags and a bicycle. A multicolored vape was also in his left hand, according to the OPD report.
Maatta stated that he was smoking “tobacco,” and he handed the vape to the officer. In the OPD report, the officer noted that several white rock-like pieces were visible in the clear portion of the vape, and the substance field-tested positive for MDPV.
The officer detained Maatta in handcuffs and then conducted a search of the bags that were near him. According to the OPD report, the following items were located inside one of those bags:
- A white powdery substance and a white paste substance that field-tested positive for cocaine.
- A brown rock-like substance, a white powdery substance, and a pink rock-like substance that field-tested positive for fetanyl. The total weight of the substances was 3.5 grams.
- A white powdery substance and white rock-like substance that field-tested positive for MDPV.
- Drug paraphernalia including two glass pipes, a metal spoon, two hypodermic needles, and a syringe.
After being read his Miranda rights, Maatta claimed that none of the bags belonged to him. The officer was familiar with Maatta and noted in the report that he had been seen with several bags in the past.
Maatta also claimed that he was unaware that MDPV was in the vape. The OPD report stated that Maatta proceeded to ignore the officer’s questions, and he mentioned that his “life is over” and “they’re never letting me out of there.”
Maatta was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $8,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for possession of fentanyl, possession of cocaine, and possession of MDPV, along with misdemeanor charges for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana (less than 20 grams).
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 13, according to jail records.