LAKELAND, Fla. – What began as a mechanical failure on a Lakeland roadway ended in a series of criminal charges for 28-year-old Billy Wayne Dunn Jr. on Wednesday night. The incident occurred around 9:07 pm on February 4th, when Dunn was driving his black Mercedes along New Tampa Highway.
The sequence of events started when the vehicle’s hood unexpectedly detached while in motion, landing in the center of the road. A Polk County Sheriff’s deputy, who was patrolling the area at the time, observed the debris and stopped to investigate.
Dunn was in the process of retrieving the hood from the roadway when the deputy stopped. During the roadside interaction, authorities determined that Dunn was operating the vehicle without a valid driver’s license.
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The investigation escalated when deputies reportedly discovered a clear plastic baggie containing cocaine that Dunn had on him.
Following the discovery, Dunn was taken into custody and transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center for booking. He is currently facing one felony count of possession of cocaine, as well as misdemeanor charges for possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without a valid license.
Additionally, he received a formal citation for operating a motor vehicle in an unsafe condition.
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