
A St. Petersburg man is facing a litany of charges after troopers say he drove over 100 mph in a construction zone with five children as passengers.
Troopers of the Florida Highway Patrol say the 42-year-old man first drew their attention on the afternoon of May 1 when he was spotted on I-275 near 118th Avenue North weaving his vehicle in and out of traffic while traveling at a high rate of speed.
Allegedly clocking him at speeds above 100 mph in a construction zone, officers caught up with the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. The man complied and, when queried by troopers as to his name, he allegedly gave a pseudonym instead. Ultimately they say they determined his true identity, leading them to discover that he was driving on a suspended license and had warrants out for his arrest on felony drug charges.
Troopers took the man into custody and subsequently found a quantity of cannabis on his person, they say. A search incident of his vehicle allegedly uncovered five children in the vehicle’s passenger compartment ranging in age from infancy to teenager. Two of the children allegedly did not have a proper car seat to sit in.
The Florida native was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on charges of driving on a suspended license, reckless driving, sale of cocaine, child neglect, cocaine possession, sale of hydromorphone, sale of counterfeit drugs, possession of hydromorphone, marijuana possession, providing a false name to law enforcement, and introduction of contraband into a detention facility. He continues to be held in lieu of a bond of $60,800.
The Law Offices of Bjorn Brunvand have been representing people charged with capital murder, felony drug charges, drunk driving, government fraud, and white-collar crimes for over a quarter century. Contact our office today to discuss your Tampa Bay-area state or federal charges.