Flagler County, Florida

The Real-Time Crime Center’s technology helps cops to identify and retain a marijuana armed driver who was charged before.

According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) RTCC’s technology a blue Infiniti, driven by a person with a suspended license was travelling northbound on US-1 in Bunnell, Florida on 13th July.

Michael Lee, 23, was the subject of the investigation. When the deputy conducting traffic enforcement between US-1 and Commerce Boulevard confirmed the car was a match for the warning, he activated emergency lights to perform a traffic stop.

Lee was contacted by the responding deputy, who informed him of the cause for the traffic stop, which he claimed he was uninformed of. He was asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle, and he paused before responding that there were none.

The deputy noticed a strong whiff of marijuana during interrogation, and when asked how much marijuana was in the vehicle, Lee said, “a little amount.” A probable cause search of the car was conducted as a result of this. Lee seemed reluctant and handed the deputy a bag of green leafy material, claiming it was all the car had.

A search of the car revealed Lee had many colourful wrapped packets labelled “cannabis flower,” as well as a handgun placed between the front driver seat and centre console in an easily accessible location. Lee said he had forgotten about the gun. Lee didn’t have a permit to carry a concealed firearm.

Also discovered was a brown prescription bottle containing codeine cough syrup. The name on the bottle had been damaged and pulled off, but the final character was visible, and it was not compatible with the surname “Lee.”

A black Louis Vuitton duffel bag was found in the back of the car, containing big packets of green leafy material. The total weight of cannabis found was 1302 grams per package (2.87lbs). Lee was subsequently handcuffed and searched, and $2,100 in cash was discovered in his front left pocket, in denominations ranging from $20 to $50 to $100 bills.

This isn’t Lee’s first run-in with the authorities. He was charged in Volusia County in 2018 with Possession of Marijuana Over 20 Grams and Failure to Appear, followed by Possession of a Controlled Substance Without Prescription and Possession of Marijuana Less Than 20 Grams in Brevard County.

Sheriff Staly stated, “Here’s another example of a criminal going across Flagler County and hoping not to be caught. Our technology not only alerted officers to someone driving with a suspended license, but also enabled us to collect nearly three pounds of illicit marijuana, cash, drug paraphernalia, and a pistol. With the guy’s firearm so easily available, this interaction might have turned out much worse, but I applaud our deputies on how effectively they handled the issue and their proactiveness.”

Michael Lee was detained at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and placed under arrest. He was charged with Marijuana Possession with Intent to Sell, Possession of Controlled Substance Without a Prescription, Manufacture and Delivery of Drug Paraphernalia, and Carrying Concealed Firearm. A $9,000 bail has been set for him.