A closer look into a Mercury Cougar illegally parked at the Manatee Public Beach after hours ended with two arrests.
Dylan Scott, 22, of Gibsonton, was arrested June 11 for allegedly stealing the car and Amber Claphan, 28, of Riverview, for allegedly possessing crystal meth and paraphernalia.
Holmes Beach Police Officer Tom Fraser observed the vehicle in the beach parking lot, 4000 Gulf Drive, at about 12:43 a.m., after a 10 p.m. closing time. He ran the license plate and determined the car was stolen from Tampa.
Police then saw a man and woman coming from the beach.
The man, later identified as Scott, had the car key and told police his girlfriend gave him permission to use the vehicle. HBPD contacted the vehicle owner, who advised no one had permission to use the car. Scott was taken into custody.
Claphan was with Scott.
Officer Mike Walker asked if police could search her two bags, according to the report. She allegedly consented and police found 1.1 grams of crystal meth rock, 0.2 grams of crystal meth, hypodermic needles, drug pipes and other paraphernalia.
Claphan and Scott were transported to the Manatee County jail.
Scott was assigned a $1,500 bond, which he posted and was released June 19.
At a first appearance, Claphan was released on a pre-trial services agreement, requiring her to not take illegal drugs and submit to random urinalysis.
Both Scott and Claphan were assigned arraignments for 9 a.m. Friday, July 15, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
