A traffic stop for a seatbelt violation led to the arrest of a 42-year-old Ocala woman after fentanyl was found inside her vehicle.
On Friday, June 23, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office corporal was patrolling the area of S Highway 441 and SE 162nd Place when a silver Toyota sedan was observed at a stop sign. The vehicle was stopped and the female driver, later identified as Kimberly Kay Edwards, was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the arrest report.
A traffic stop of the sedan was initiated, and Edwards pulled her vehicle into the Sunoco gas station located at 9945 SE Highway 42 in Summerfield. The corporal made contact with Edwards and observed that she was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
The corporal explained the reason for the traffic stop. While speaking with Edwards, the corporal noticed that the sedan’s window tint appeared to be “extremely dark.” The corporal informed Edwards that the tint was going to be tested, and she advised that testing was unnecessary since she “knew (the tint) was illegal,” according to the MCSO report.
In the report, the corporal noted that Edwards’ hands were “visibly shaking” and she appeared to be nervous while interacting with law enforcement. Another MCSO deputy was on scene and stayed with Edwards while the corporal conducted a records search of the sedan. During that search, the deputy informed the corporal that a clear plastic baggie fell out of Edwards’ purse and was in “plain view.”
Since the baggie was “consistent with drug paraphernalia,” Edwards was ordered to exit the vehicle, and she was detained while her sedan was searched. The MCSO report stated that Edwards’ purse was found on the passenger side of the vehicle, and inside the purse was a green pack of cigarettes.
The corporal opened the pack of cigarettes and observed a “clear torn sandwich filled with a clear crystal-like substance.” The purse also contained Edwards’ wallet and other identifying information, according to the MCSO report.
The crystal-like substance weighed 3.5 grams and initially field-tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. The MCSO report stated that a subsequent field test was conducted, and the substance further tested positive for fentanyl.
After being read her Miranda rights, Edwards claimed that the substance did not belong to her. She admitted that the purse was hers, but she denied smoking the particular brand of cigarettes that were located in her purse. She further claimed that she had given someone else a ride in her vehicle earlier in the day and she believed that “anything found must belong to them,” according to the MCSO report.
Edwards was arrested, transported to Marion County Jail, and she was later released on $5,000 bond. She is facing a felony charge for possession of fentanyl.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.