MILLARD K. IVES | Staff Writer
millardives@dailycommercial.com
A Lake County patrol deputy was arrested Thursday after he allegedly got caught up in a drug investigation.
Deputy Sheriff Andy Hernandez, who has been with the department since 2007, was charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana as well as conspiracy after the fact, and failure to perform his duty as an officer.
Hernandez, 37, was placed in the Lake County jail and released after posting $3,500 bail.
The arrest occurred about 10 p.m. Thursday at 1529 Still Drive in Clermont.
According to the sheriff's office, detectives with the Special Investigations Unit had been investigating alleged drug activity at the residence for about a month. They were continuing the investigation Thursday night when they conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Kristopher Alas, who they believed had just done a drug transaction at the home. Detectives said Alas admitted buying drugs from the home and volunteered that a Lake County deputy sheriff was present when the transaction took place.
Detectives quickly obtained a search warrant for the home and allegedly found Hernandez, who was off duty at the time, in a screened back porch sitting next to a table containing K-2 spice, a synthetic marijuana, as well as burnt marijuana cigarettes.
According to an arrest affidavit, Hernandez, who lives in Tavares, told officers he was just there to sleep and didn't know why he was being arrested.
Detectives said they also found about 30 grams of marijuana packaged for sale in the home, along with a digital scales, four oxycodone pills and more K-2 spice.
Luis Guzman Jr., a resident of the home, was arrested on charges of sale of marijuana, felony possession of marijuana with the intent to sale, possession of a schedule 2 narcotic without a prescription, possession of K-2 spice, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was
jailed on $11,000 bail.
Sheriff's spokesman Lt. John Herrell said Hernandez was hired by the department in 2007 as a detention deputy. In January of this year, he transferred to the law enforcement division as a deputy sheriff.
Herrell added the has no previous disciplinary action during his employment.
An administrative investigation surrounding this incident is now under way and it is not clear what Hernandez's current status is with the department.
millardives@dailycommercial.com
A Lake County patrol deputy was arrested Thursday after he allegedly got caught up in a drug investigation.
Deputy Sheriff Andy Hernandez, who has been with the department since 2007, was charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana as well as conspiracy after the fact, and failure to perform his duty as an officer.
Hernandez, 37, was placed in the Lake County jail and released after posting $3,500 bail.
The arrest occurred about 10 p.m. Thursday at 1529 Still Drive in Clermont.
According to the sheriff's office, detectives with the Special Investigations Unit had been investigating alleged drug activity at the residence for about a month. They were continuing the investigation Thursday night when they conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Kristopher Alas, who they believed had just done a drug transaction at the home. Detectives said Alas admitted buying drugs from the home and volunteered that a Lake County deputy sheriff was present when the transaction took place.
Detectives quickly obtained a search warrant for the home and allegedly found Hernandez, who was off duty at the time, in a screened back porch sitting next to a table containing K-2 spice, a synthetic marijuana, as well as burnt marijuana cigarettes.
According to an arrest affidavit, Hernandez, who lives in Tavares, told officers he was just there to sleep and didn't know why he was being arrested.
Detectives said they also found about 30 grams of marijuana packaged for sale in the home, along with a digital scales, four oxycodone pills and more K-2 spice.
Luis Guzman Jr., a resident of the home, was arrested on charges of sale of marijuana, felony possession of marijuana with the intent to sale, possession of a schedule 2 narcotic without a prescription, possession of K-2 spice, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was
jailed on $11,000 bail.
Sheriff's spokesman Lt. John Herrell said Hernandez was hired by the department in 2007 as a detention deputy. In January of this year, he transferred to the law enforcement division as a deputy sheriff.
Herrell added the has no previous disciplinary action during his employment.
An administrative investigation surrounding this incident is now under way and it is not clear what Hernandez's current status is with the department.