- April 19, 2024
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Deputies arrested Palm Coast resident Michael Lee and seized a firearm, cash and nearly 3 pounds of marijuana in a traffic stop on July 13.
“Here’s another case of a criminal driving through Flagler County and expecting not to be caught,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Not only did our technology alert deputies to someone driving with a suspended license, but allowed us to seize almost 3 pounds of illegal marijuana, cash, drug paraphernalia and a gun. This encounter could have ended much worse with the guy’s weapon being easily accessible, but I commend our deputies on how well they handled the situation and their proactiveness.”
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Real Time Criminal Center technology had advised that a blue Infiniti was northbound on U.S. 1 and that the registered owner had a suspended driver’s license.
The subject was identified as Lee, 23. When a deputy was doing traffic enforcement in the area of U.S. 1 and Commerce Boulevard verified the vehicle was a match for the alert, he activated emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop.
The deputy made contact with Lee, telling him of the reason for the traffic stop. Lee said he was unaware of the suspension. He was asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle. He hesitated, then said no.
During questioning, the deputy detected a strong odor of marijuana. When asked how much marijuana was in the vehicle, Lee said, “a little bit.”
This prompted a probable cause search of the vehicle. Lee provided the deputy with a bag of green leafy substance, saying that was all that was in the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle was conducted and it was discovered that Lee had several colorful sealed bags reading “cannabis flower,” and a firearm that was wedged between the front driver seat and center console, readily accessible. Lee said he'd forgotten that the firearm was there. He did not have a concealed weapons permit.
A brown prescription bottle filled with codeine cough syrup was also found. The name on the bottle was scratched and ripped off, but the last character of the name on the bottle was visible, and not consistent with the last name of “Lee.”
Located in the rear of the vehicle was a black Louis Vuitton duffel bag containing large-sized packages of a green leafy substance.
The total package weight of cannabis recovered was 1302 grams (2.87 pounds).
Lee was secured in handcuffs and he was searched which resulted in $2,100 cash located in Lee’s front left pocket, in denominations ranging from $20, $50, and $100 bills.
This is not Lee’s first encounter with law enforcement. His criminal history dates back to 2018 where he was charged in Volusia County for 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.
Michael Lee was placed under arrest and transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. He is was charged with Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Sell, Possession of Controlled Substance Without Prescription, Manufacture and Deliver Drug Paraphernalia and Carrying Concealed Firearm. He’s being held on a $9,000 bond.
