Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Arrest

                                                                                                              NEWS RELEASE #: 17-023 - JANUARY 30, 2017

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested a man after a traffic stop led deputies to the discovery of cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana in his car.

Just before 1:00 a.m. on Monday morning, deputies driving southbound on I-75 near the Jacaranda Boulevard exit in Venice, observed a vehicle driving erratically and nearly crashing into another driver. When deputies ran the license plate, it came back to Howard Russell, DOB 06/09/86, with an active warrant out of Sumter County. A traffic stop was conducted and after deputies noticed the smell of burnt marijuana, a subsequent search of Russell's car yielded more than 50 grams of the drug in addition to 11 oxycodone pills, nearly 4 grams of cocaine, and several small baggies often used to distribute drugs.

Russell, is charged with Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Sell, Possession of Oxycodone with Intent to Sell, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Sell, and Possession of Narcotics Equipment. He was released from the Sarasota County jail on $19,013 bond. Russell has prior arrests including Attempted Murder, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Obstruction.

Howard Russell_b4d7529ca81e8864f84796ce153245ce
Howard Russell