POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Winter Haven man’s attempt to evade arrest by providing a false name backfired when a traffic stop uncovered drugs and an outstanding warrant.
On Tuesday, November 19th, a Polk County Sheriff’s sergeant stopped a green Volvo S80 on Snively Avenue in Eloise for not being registered. The driver, 54-year-old Richard Hallmark, initially identified himself as “Robert.”
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However, the sergeant noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A search revealed a backpack containing marijuana and methamphetamine. Hallmark claimed the backpack belonged to his “brother Robert,” despite previously identifying himself as Robert.
Hallmark eventually admitted his true identity and confessed that he lied because he had an outstanding warrant for Violation of Probation related to a conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine charge.
Hallmark was arrested on the outstanding warrant and additionally charged with two felonies and three misdemeanors related to the drug possession and false identification. He was booked into the Polk County Jail.
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