Pre-holiday Traffic Stops Yield Trio of Drug Busts on the Same Night

A trio of traffic stops resulted in the arrest of three men and one woman in connection with drug-related crimes on the same night shortly before Christmas.

The series of arrests began at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 when deputies stopped a vehicle driven by 28-year-old Colin Morris at the intersection of Arbuckle Road and McCormick Street in Spring Hill. During the stop, deputies detected a strong smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Also, from their position outside the vehicle, they noticed a firearm located in the center console in plain view.

When they searched the vehicle, deputies discovered 5.4 grams of cocaine, 2.1 grams of fentanyl, 147.8 grams of marijuana and numerous items of drug paraphernalia. They also found a Glock 23 handgun and 12 rounds of ammunition.

Morris, who is a convicted felon, was arrested and booked into the Hernando County Detention Center on possession with intent to sell marijuana, possession with intent to sell cocaine, possession with intent to sell fentanyl and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. He is free on bond.

Then, around 10 p.m. the same night, deputies stopped a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Kendrick Lovett at the intersection of Wiscon Road and Broad Street in Brooksville. During the traffic stop, Lovett initially refused to identify himself to deputies or exit the vehicle.

At the same time, Lovett reached into a black briefcase located inside the vehicle and refused to show the deputies his hands.
They subsequently physically removed him from the vehicle and took him into custody. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded revolver located inside Lovett’s briefcase. Lovett, who is a convicted felon, admitted owning the gun.

During the stop, deputies also learned that Lovett was wanted on an active Pinellas County warrant for fleeing and eluding law enforcement, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of an accident and operating a vehicle without a license. He was booked into the Hernando County Detention Center on driving while his license was suspended/revoked, where he remains pending extradition to Pinellas County.

Deputies also found Lovett’s passenger, identified as 23-year-old Nefpharteri Saint Valle, in possession of marijuana and was arrested and charged with resisting an officer without violence and possession of marijuana. She was booked into the Hernando County Detention Center and released.

Finally, at around 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 19, deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by 33-year-old Zachary Wiggins at the intersection of Cortez Road and Treiman Boulevard in Ridge Manor. During the stop, deputies learned that Wiggins was driving on a license that was suspended in 2016. He was also found to be in possession of 21.4 grams of methamphetamine and a smoking pipe.

He was arrested and booked into the Hernando County Detention Center on charges of trafficking methamphetamine, 14 grams or over, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license. He is being held in lieu of bond.

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