CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. -- A Port Charlotte man is facing several drug charges after a deputy who was helping him push his car off the road smelled marijuana.
44-year-old Bernardo Baptist is facing 9 counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, on Monday afternoon, a deputy stopped to assist Baptist, who's vehicle had broken down in the roadway at Tamiami Trail and Harborview Road. While pushing the vehicle, the deputy observed a strong smell of marijuana coming from Baptist.
The deputy asked if he had any drugs on him or in the car, and Baptist reportedly responded "no, you can search me."
The deputy located a plastic baggie in his front pocket containing approximately 5 grams of marijuana, and a blue pouch in the front of Baptist’s pants, which contained several different types of pills later identified as Oxycodone, Alprazolam, Buprenorphine Hydrochloride, Naxalone, and MDMA. There were also several small baggies containing methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, and marijuana.
Bernardo Baptist was transported to the Charlotte County Jail.
