Traffic Stop Yields Drug Arrests

NEWS RELEASE 17-198 - AUGUST 24, 2017
                                                                               Woodward, Dylan    O'Connor, Judith 

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Nokomis duo on drug trafficking charges after deputies recovered more than 90 grams of methamphetamine during a traffic stop.

Patrol deputies first initiated the stop along Jacaranda Blvd., just south of Border Road, in Venice, Thursday morning around 2:00 a.m. As the suspect’s vehicle pulled onto the shoulder of the road, deputies heard a loud noise in the bushes near the passenger side of the car. As deputies approached the driver, Dylan Woodard, DOB 09/22/91, he reached in his pocket and removed a cell phone and nearly $6,000 in cash, and handed it to passenger Judith O’Connor, DOB 08/17/86. A search of the vehicle was conducted however, deputies located no contraband. As deputies took Woodward into custody for Driving without a Valid License, they searched the nearby bushes and discovered a sunglass case containing three baggies of methamphetamine. Once weighed, deputies confirmed the duo was in possession of more than 90 grams of the drug. During a search of O’Connor’s purse, deputies recovered additional meth, cocaine and several syringes.

Both were arrested and transported to the Sarasota County Jail. Woodward is charged with Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Driving While License Suspended with Knowledge. He is a prolific offender with prior arrests including drug trafficking, Resisting and Theft. O’Connor is charged with Trafficking in Methamphetamine and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance without a Prescription. Her prior arrests include Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Theft and various drug crimes.

Both remain in custody without bond.