2 Tennessee Men Arrested For Guns, Drugs Following Routine Stop

WINTER HAVEN, FL -- Two Tennessee men have been arrested on drugs and weapon charges after they were pulled over for failing to observe the “move over” law.

At 2:55 a.m. Tuesday, May 8, Winter Haven Police officers were investigating a traffic crash along Cypress Gardens Boulevard when a car traveling at a high rate of speed failed to move over or slow down for the emergency vehicles in the roadway, as required by Florida law.

Winter Haven Police pulled the car over and the officer who approached the car smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside of the car. The officer asked the driver, 19 year-old Stephan Strong of Memphis, Tennessee, to get out of the car. The officer then conducted a pat-down and found a bag of marijuana tucked inside of Strong's underwear.

The passenger, 19 year-old Albert Smith of Memphis, was then ordered to get out of the car.

As he was getting out, the Winter Haven Police officers saw a black handle wedged under the seat that appeared to be a firearm.

They confirmed that the item was a black Glock .45-caliber pistol with six rounds inside of the magazine and one in the chamber. A check of the gun revealed it was stolen from Tennessee.

Smith also had a small marijuana blunt in his possession.

A further search off the car uncovered a .40-caliber Glock beneath the driver’s seat. The pistol, which had the serial number filed off, had 15 rounds in the magazine and one inside the chamber.

Both Smith and Strong were transported to the Polk County Jail.

Strong is charged with carrying a concealed weapon, no valid driver’s license, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of an altered firearm.

Smith is charged with possession of stolen property, carrying a concealed weapon, no valid driver's license, permitting an unauthorized person to drive his car, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

"This is a prime example of the danger our officers face each day when they conduct traffic stops," said Police Chief Charlie Bird. "Their keen observation and attention to detail has at least one stolen gun off the street and two criminals behind bars."

Images via Winter Haven Police

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