HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – A routine check on a suspended driver turned into a felony narcotics case this week after deputies say a suspect tried to ditch his stash mid-traffic stop.
Detectives with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office Vice and Narcotics Unit were on patrol on December 9 when they spotted a red SUV parked at a 7-Eleven on Cortez Boulevard. They recognized the driver as 32-year-old Kenneth Harbaugh and knew his driving history; records showed his license was suspended and that he had six prior convictions for the same offense.
When Harbaugh pulled out of the gas station and headed east on Wiscon Road, detectives hit their lights to pull him over.
According to the arrest report, Harbaugh slowed down but didn’t stop immediately. As the SUV drifted briefly off the roadway, detectives saw two small clear plastic baggies fly out the front passenger window.
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The vehicle eventually came to a halt in front of a business on Wiscon Road. Deputies removed Harbaugh from the SUV without a struggle and went back to check the grassy area where the objects were thrown. They recovered baggies containing a white crystal substance.
A search of the vehicle uncovered more drugs and some unusual paraphernalia. Inside a zipper pouch, deputies found a rolled-up, counterfeit $20 bill that was being used to conceal a small bag of white powder. The search also yielded used syringes, Suboxone strips, a bag of marijuana, and six additional fake bills.
Forensic testing later confirmed the substances included 22.9 grams of methamphetamine, 0.6 grams of cocaine, and 7.1 grams of marijuana.
The bust carries serious legal weight for Harbaugh, who was already on felony probation for a previous case involving fleeing law enforcement. Consequently, he was slapped with a Violation of Probation charge on top of the new offenses.
Harbaugh was booked into the Hernando County Detention Center. Due to the trafficking charge, he is currently being held on a no-bond status pending his first court appearance.
He faces the following charges:
- Trafficking in Methamphetamine
- Possession of Cocaine
- Possession of Suboxone
- Tampering with Physical Evidence
- Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement
- Possession of Marijuana (Less than 20 Grams)
- Driving While License Suspended or Revoked
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