Man Wearing 'Dope' Shirt Arrested on Drug Charges

When Sarasota Police officers watched a car run a stop sign early Sunday morning, they probably expected a routine encounter. That’s not what they got.

The incident happened around 4 a.m. when police saw a car run a stop sign at the intersection of 22nd Street and Leon Avenue. They attempted a traffic stop in the 2800 block of Central Avenue, an email to media stated. The driver of the car, however, had no intention of stopping. He continued north on Central Avenue, drove through a dead end and crashed into a tree.

Not quite ready to give up, two men in the car bailed out on foot, but were caught a short while later.

When police approached the car, they noticed a “strong smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle,” the email said. A quick search uncovered 2.4 grams of powder cocaine, 21.1 grams of crack cocaine and 3 grams of heroin. They also recovered MDMA, or ecstasy, and $1,715 in cash.

When police went to make the arrests, they noticed one of the men was wearing a shirt that had the word “DOPE” emblazoned on the back.

Arrested were:

Thomas McDuffie, 29, of 2011 Mercy Drive in Orlando

Charges:

• Driving with a license suspended Habitual Traffic Offender (felony)
• Possession of Crack of Cocaine with Intent to Sell (felony)
• Possession of Powder Cocaine with Intent to Sell (felony)
• Possession of Heroin with Intent to Sell (felony)
• Leaving the scene of a crash (misdemeanor)
• Obstruction without Violence (misdemeanor)

Tyderian Jenkins, 21, of 4325 Kingsfield Drive, Parrish

• Possession of Marijuana w Intent to Sell (felony)
• Obstruction without violence (misdemeanor)

Photo Credit: A man arrested Sunday on drug charges was wearing this shirt. Photo courtesy of the Sarasota Police Department.