An Ocala man was arrested on drug charges for the second time this year after being pulled over for failing to yield to another vehicle.
Carl Jay Woodruff, 35, was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and driving with a suspended license (habitual offender). He spent 10 days in jail in February after being nabbed for possession of meth and marijuana, and he has 10 other arrests in Marion County dating back to 2011, according to jail records.
At around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, a Marion County sheriff’s deputy observed Woodruff’s yellow Chevrolet Monte Carlo leave the Circle K gas station at the intersection of SE Maricamp and SE Pine roads. After stopping at the red light, Woodruff turned east onto SE Maricamp Road, failing to yield to an oncoming SUV, causing it to take evasive action to avoid a collision, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The deputy conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of SE Maricamp and SE Midway roads. As the deputy approached the driver’s window, Woodruff’s vehicle started to roll backwards towards the patrol vehicle and eventually struck the front push bumper. Woodruff then placed the vehicle into park and got out as requested, the report said.
The deputy detected the odor of burnt marijuana emanating from the vehicle and conducted a probable cause search. The deputy found a small plastic bag containing a white crystal substance lying between the driver’s seat and the door seal. The bag was in plain view from outside the vehicle with the driver’s door open, according to the report.
The deputy found another plastic bag containing a green leafy substance immediately behind the driver’s seat, between the seat and the interior door panel. The second bag was also in plain view from outside the vehicle with the door open, the report said.
The white crystal substance tested positive for methamphetamine, while the green leafy substance tested positive for marijuana. Both passengers in the vehicle admitted they had smoked some marijuana but didn’t have any left. The back-seat passenger also said she believed Woodruff used meth due to his “jumpy” behavior, according to the report.
Woodruff told the deputy he knew his license was suspended and he shouldn’t be driving. He said he had no knowledge of the marijuana or methamphetamine being in “his” vehicle, which is not registered to him. Woodruff said he has had access to and has been using the vehicle for the past month, the report said.
Woodruff was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was being held on $13,000 bond. He is due to appear in Marion County Court on July 28.