Stephens
A Century man stopped on April 23 for not wearing a seatbelt is facing felony drug possession when the substance found inside his vehicle was later identified as 'Spice'.
Ryan Wade-Qualls Stephens, 24, 40 Hudson Hill, was arrested Sept. 8 and charged with one count felony drug possession of a controlled substance without a prescription when the vehicle was searched during a traffic stop in April 2018 for not wearing a seatbelt.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff's Office report, Stephens was traveling in a green pickup with a Florida tag on Jefferson Avenue in Century when a deputy observed the driver and passenger were not wearing seat belts and initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Pand Street and Century Boulevard.
The officer made contact with the driver and stated the reason for the stop, requesting driver's license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance. The driver stated he did not have his Florida driver's license in his possession. The officer then asked the driver for permission to search the vehicle, according to the report.
Stephens, the driver, gave verbal consent to search the vehicle. The report said the officer discovered two packets of Spice, one bag under the console and the other under the passenger side seat.
The report noted that the officer advised Stephens and the passenger that the Spice would be submitted to Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for testing and based on the results a warrant may be applied for. Based on the positive lab results received from FDLE, warrants were issued and Stephens was arrested Sept. 8, the report said. Stephens was transported to the Escambia County Jail and given a bond of $2,500.
