OCALA, FLORIDA — A 26-year-old Ocala man, Josean Pina Lopez, was arrested on felony drug charges after deputies discovered heroin, fentanyl, and Xanax during a traffic stop on Marion Oaks Manor.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy observed Lopez driving a black Toyota erratically around 3 p.m. on Wednesday. The vehicle was swerving and failing to maintain its lane, prompting a traffic stop.
As the deputy approached, he detected the odor of marijuana emanating from the car. Lopez, who claimed to speak only Spanish, was reportedly moving around suspiciously and appeared impaired.
Additional deputies arrived to assist and conducted a search of the vehicle, uncovering two clear plastic bags with a whitish brown powder on the center console. A third bag containing the same substance and two reddish yellow pills was found inside the glove box.
The powder later tested positive for heroin and fentanyl, while the pills were confirmed to be Xanax, a controlled substance for which Lopez had no prescription. A still-warm brown cigar smelling of marijuana was also found on the backseat floorboard, but it could not be tested.
Due to the language barrier, field sobriety tests were not performed.
Lopez, of 15080 SW 35th Ave. Road, was arrested and charged with:
Possession of heroin (felony)
Possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (felony)
He was booked into the Marion County Jail and released on $4,000 bond. Lopez is scheduled to appear in Marion County Court on September 15.
