Lake Hamilton Traffic Stop Unravels into Drug Takedown and Tampering Arrest
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A routine traffic stop took an unexpected turn Wednesday evening when a Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) deputy, recognizing a driver with a suspended license, found himself in a brief, finger-wagging pursuit that ultimately led to drug charges.
At approximately 8:00 PM on Wednesday, June 25th, a PCSO deputy was on patrol near 8th Street and Lake Marie Blvd in Lake Hamilton when he observed a vehicle driven by 67-year-old Reece Townsend of Haines City.
The deputy was familiar with Townsend and knew his driver’s license was suspended.
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Upon initiating a traffic stop, the deputy was met with a peculiar response: Townsend continued driving, holding an index finger out his window, seemingly signaling for “one second.”
This impromptu gesture was repeated after the deputy sounded his siren again, following Townsend past three streets. It was during this brief, unusual delay that a baggie was seen flying from the passenger window of Townsend’s vehicle.
Finally, Townsend pulled over and, according to the PCSO, immediately apologized, stating, “I am sorry, I did not mean to not stop. I was scared, and that’s why I threw the baggie out of the window.”
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The deputy quickly retrieved the discarded baggie, which was found to contain methamphetamine. A subsequent search of Townsend’s vehicle uncovered a second baggie of the illicit substance.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested Reece Townsend and faces multiple charges, including Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Tampering with Evidence, and Resisting an Officer without Violence. He was booked into the Polk County Jail.
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