Deputies: Snack Attack Led To Meth Charges

LAKELAND, FL — Polk County deputies are offering a tip for all would-be criminals who might consider helping themselves to a five-finger discount.

“If you’re going to shoplift candy from the store, you may want to get rid of the illegal narcotics in your car first,” the agency advised on its Facebook page Sunday morning.

That advice comes on the heels of a rather unusual drug bust in Lakeland. The incident unfolded when Cindy McCloud and Shawn Holley, both 44, are accused of going into the Circle K at 4950 U.S. 92 in Lakeland and helping themselves to a king-sized Reese’s, a Snicker’s bar and two snack cakes. All told, the haul was valued at $10, the sheriff’s office reported.

The two, however, allegedly took their ill-gotten gains to their car, which was parked at the store’s gas pumps. Once inside, they dove into the sugary snacks as the store’s clerk called the sheriff’s office for help.

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Deputies nearby managed to respond within a minute, bringing with them the K9 team of Brett Hermelbracht and Turbo. As it turned out, Turbo happened to sniff out the scent of narcotics in the car, prompting a more thorough search.

Inside Cindy’s purse, deputies say they found:

One (1) silver, zip-up pouch, containing multiple small, clear plastic baggies, which contained a white crystalline substance.

• Forty-six (46) unused syringes.
• A large amount of unused, small, clear, Ziploc plastic baggies, consistent with the sale of narcotics.
• One (1) folded old store receipt, which contained a small amount of a green leafy substance.
• One (1) glass pipe with white crystalline residue contained within.
• One (1) syringe filled with an unknown clear liquid.
• Three (3) small containers (one blue, one green, one clear with a black top), with the clear container with a black lid containing a small amount of an unknown clear liquid, the small green container containing an unknown clear liquid, and the small blue container containing white crystalline residue.
• A large amount of sterile alcohol swab wipes.
• Three (3) straws, with a white crystalline residue contained within.
• Two (2) small folding pocket knives containing a white crystalline residue upon the blade.
• One (1) silver digital scale, with a white crystalline type residue on it.

As it turned out, the items tested positive for meth and that green leafy substance was marijuana.

McCloud was booked into the Polk County Jail on possession of meth with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a church, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.

“She’s been in our jail 29 times,” the sheriff’s office noted.

Holley was charged with felony retail theft, third or subsequent offense. Deputies say he’s been in the Polk Jail 19 times before.

Booking photos courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office