Routine Stop Turns Serious as Deputies Seize Cocaine and Firearm
In Brief:
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Deputies recovered 44.7 grams of cocaine packaged in 32 baggies
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A firearm and nearly $5,800 in cash were also found during the search
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The arrest stemmed from a late-night traffic stop for a stop sign violation
A late-night traffic stop in Santa Rosa Beach led to the arrest of a local man on cocaine trafficking and weapons charges after deputies discovered dozens of baggies of suspected narcotics inside his vehicle.
According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, deputies stopped a dark gray Dodge Ram just after 10 p.m. Monday, January 12, after observing the driver roll through a stop sign on J.D. Miller Road near Frito Lane.
The driver, identified as 27-year-old Pablo Jesus Oviedo, immediately drew attention from deputies due to the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Deputies also observed a marijuana blunt tucked behind Oviedo’s left ear and a THC-labeled pouch sitting in the center console.
Based on those observations, deputies conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle.
During the search, deputies located multiple small individual baggies containing a white crystal-like substance, along with empty baggies, a digital scale with residue, and a spoon with white residue. Additional baggies containing the same substance were later found on Oviedo’s person, including inside his jacket pocket and waistband.
A presumptive field test of the substance returned a positive result for cocaine. In total, deputies recovered 32 small baggies weighing approximately 44.7 grams.
Deputies also located a firearm identified as a Heckler & Koch MP5, along with $5,772 in U.S. currency inside the vehicle. A small brown bag containing an off-white substance was also recovered. Oviedo reportedly told deputies the substance was THC wax; however, it was later identified as DMT and weighed approximately 3.7 grams.
Following his arrest, Oviedo reportedly admitted the white substance was cocaine and acknowledged ownership of the scale and baggies. He also told deputies his medical marijuana card had expired for four years.
Oviedo was charged with trafficking cocaine, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was given a $50,000 bond and remained incarcerated at the Walton County Jail at the time of this release.
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