An investigation into a suspicious vehicle on Aug. 4 led to the arrest of a Key Largo man for possession of cocaine on Tuesday.
Jeffrey Paul Schultz, 36, was charged with possession of paraphernalia and two counts possession of cocaine.
On Aug. 4, a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Deputy received a report of a suspicious vehicle, possibly being used for drug-related activities.
Upon arrival, the deputy found the vehicle parked but running, with three occupants inside.
While speaking with the driver, later identified as Schultz, the deputy spotted a syringe filled with a clear liquid on the driver’s lap. Simultaneously, Schultz began to reach into the center console. The deputy, fearing Schultz was reaching for a weapon, drew his gun and ordered Schultz out of the vehicle and then handcuffed him.
A second deputy arrived and they ordered the other two passengers out of the vehicle. A search followed, where deputies found two baggies, one with a brown powdery substance and one with a white powdery substance. Schultz claimed one of the bags and the syringe, but stated the other bag belonged to a friend who wasn’t on scene. Schultz stated the syringe and two baggies contained cocaine.
One of the two passengers stated she was just picked up by Schultz. She said the drugs weren’t hers, and she was unaware of who they belonged to.
MCSO sent the drugs to be tested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to confirm the drugs were cocaine. After the results came back positive, deputies secured an arrest warrant for Schultz.
On Tuesday, deputies arrested Schultz at his home in Key Largo. He was taken to the Plantation Key jail, where he was being held on a $20,000 bond.
Information in the Crime Report is obtained from reports provided by area law enforcement agencies.
If you have information that could help solve a crime in the Florida Keys, call Crime Stoppers, 800-346-TIPS.