Traffic Stop Uncovers Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Other Drugs; Suspect Remains in Custody
SARASOTA, Fla. – A routine traffic stop in Sarasota has led to a major drug bust and three felony charges for a local man after police discovered a trove of narcotics, including a significant amount of fentanyl, inside his vehicle.
The incident began on August 20 when Sarasota Police officers pulled over a vehicle for running a stop sign near Adams Lane and East Avenue. During the stop, a Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputy and his K9 partner, Gunnar, were called to the scene. After both the driver and front-seat passenger, identified as Josh Davis, 35, were asked to exit, K9 Gunnar conducted an open-air sniff and positively alerted to the vehicle.
The alert gave officers probable cause to search the car. The search quickly led to the discovery of a black safe on the passenger side containing a variety of drugs and paraphernalia. Items recovered included:
- Six bags of suspected cocaine
- One pill bottle and one bag containing suspected Xanax
- Half of a suspected oxycodone pill
- A pen with a suspected THC capsule
- A backpack with a small bag of suspected marijuana and a pipe
Officers also found a metal spoon with residue, a plastic bag of small individual baggies, and an uncapped syringe under the passenger seat.
Davis was arrested and taken to police headquarters, where he allegedly admitted that the safe and its contents were his. Crucially, he told investigators that the white powder, initially suspected to be cocaine, was actually fentanyl.
Subsequent controlled substance analysis, completed on September 18, confirmed Davis’s statement, with the substance testing positive for fentanyl and weighing a total of 89.57 grams.
Davis has been formally charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver and one count of trafficking fentanyl over 28 grams. He is currently being held at the Sarasota County Jail, and additional charges are pending as the investigation continues.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
