A Dade City man was arrested on January 16, 2025, after a traffic stop in Ridge Manor led to the discovery of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle.
At approximately 11:49 a.m., Hernando County Sheriff’s Deputy D. Barlow initiated the stop near Treiman Boulevard and Reynold Street for a seat belt violation. The driver of the vehicle was identified as 53-year-old Michael Cope.
As Deputy Barlow returned to his patrol vehicle to verify Cope’s identity, Cope was seen tossing a clear plastic baggie out of the driver’s side window. When the deputy returned to the vehicle, he found the baggie on the ground next to the car. The incident was captured on the cruiser’s dash cam.
The baggie contained 13.7 grams of a crystal-like substance, which later tested positive for methamphetamine. Cope was immediately detained.
During a search of Cope’s vehicle, deputies discovered a zippered pouch behind the passenger seat containing two additional baggies of methamphetamine weighing 2.3 grams. A loaded syringe with 3.4 grams of an orange liquid, also confirmed to be methamphetamine, was also found in the pouch, along with drug paraphernalia.
Cope was arrested and charged with trafficking in methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Hernando County Detention Center, where his bond was set at $3,500.
