A Leesburg man and a Tavares woman were arrested Monday afternoon after a K-9 unit detected narcotics in their vehicle during a traffic stop in Lake County.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, 32-year-old James White and 29-year-old Genoveva Salena Sweeney were spotted inside a red passenger car stopped at a sign near County Road 473 around 4 p.m. A deputy noted the car pulled out behind him and accelerated to 53 mph in a 40-mph zone. When the deputy moved behind the car to check its registration, the driver—later identified as White—quickly turned onto a dead-end road.
Although the deputy activated his overhead lights, the vehicle continued to roll slowly while the occupants made suspicious movements. It eventually came to a full stop only after the emergency siren was used.
As the deputy approached, White appeared nervous and continued moving inside the vehicle. He refused consent for a search, prompting the deputy to call for a K-9 unit. While a citation was being written for the speeding violation, the K-9 arrived and gave a positive alert for narcotics near the driver’s side door.
Both White and Sweeney were removed from the vehicle for a search. A small baggie containing a pink powder—later confirmed as methamphetamine—was found on the driver’s side floorboard near the center console. Two more baggies of meth were located in a pink bag on the passenger’s side.
Additional paraphernalia was found, including a yellow bag under the passenger seat containing a silicone and glass smoking device, and a modified baby bottle in the passenger door with visible residue.
Both suspects were detained. While being handcuffed, Sweeney claimed ownership of all contraband and admitted White handed her items to hide during the stop. She retrieved a glass smoking device with residue and marijuana from her waistband, along with eight pills identified as suboxone. The pills were sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for further testing.
Sweeney also explained that the vehicle’s delay in stopping was due to her attempting to conceal the items.
White and Sweeney were arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. They were transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $3,500 bonds.
