Marijuana was found in the trunk of a Mercedes after the driver ran a red light in the area of State Road 44 and Interstate 75 in Wildwood.
A deputy observed a white Mercedes traveling westbound on State Road 44 just east of I-75 in Wildwood around 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. A check of the license plate revealed the registered owner, 37-year-old Darrell Keith Nottage of Quincy, had a suspended license.
The vehicle then ran a red light on the I-75 northbound on-ramp, leading to a traffic stop. When speaking to law enforcement, Nottage advised that he had a court date for the suspended license. He had been stopped for it already, but that deputy could not find the citation that suspended the driver’s license. This made him think it was okay to drive, the report said.
At that point, the deputy smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and informed Nottage that he would be searching the interior. Nottage admitted there was indeed marijuana in the vehicle before the deputy discovered his camo backpack in the trunk. It contained two red baggies labeled “Fanta,” inside of which was marijuana, the report said…