A Charlotte County Sheriff’s deputy saw a blue Subaru with no headlights on Wednesday at 11:41 p.m. that resulted in drug trafficking charges and seizure of $5,445 in cash. Arrested was Patricia Ann South, 37, 12142 Chancellor Boulevard, Port Charlotte. The stop was made at Midway Boulevard and Ellicott Circle.
A check showed South’s driver’s license was expired and deputies knew her from prior narcotics violations. South told deputies the car belonged to a friend and would not allow a search of the vehicle. A CCSO K9 unit responded and did an exterior sniff; the dog alerted to the presence of controlled substances and Narcotics detectives were summoned.
A search of the vehicle found two large bundled amounts of cash totaling $5,445, and a black pouch on the front passenger seat containing a crack pipe, a container with Cocaine residue, a push rod, tweezers and a rag. An M&M container by the center console contained quantities of Hydromorpone and Oxycodone pills. Detectives also found a man’s pair of pants under the driver’s seat with a wallet containing $997. South said the money and drugs found in the car were not hers and belonged to the woman who owns the Subaru. Detectives continue their investigation and are not releasing names of the vehicle owner, or the man who owns the pants and wallet.
South was arrested and charged with Trafficking in Hydromorphone, Possession of Oxycodone, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She remains in jail on no bond due to bond forfeiture on an Oct. 25 Cocaine arrest and has recommitted another crime. Bond on the four new charges was set at $42,000. Anyone with knowledge of illegal drug activity is asked to please call the CCSO Narcotics Unit at 941-575-2157, or Crime Stoppers at 800-780-TIPS (8477).