Holmes Beach police arrested Bradenton resident Margaret Hagan, 40, Dec. 9 on a third-degree felony for possession of methamphetamine.
Hagan also was charged with a first-degree misdemeanor for possessing paraphernalia.
An officer saw a motorist park at Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, but the motorist left when he drove by. So the officer followed the vehicle and ran its tag through law enforcement databases, finding that Hagan, the registered owner, had a suspended license.
The officer conducted a traffic stop, issued a citation to Hagan and asked to search the vehicle, which she allowed.
The officer found a glass pipe, bags of marijuana and a white powder suspected to be meth.
The substance field-tested positive for methamphetamine, at which time the officer arrested Hagan and transported her to the Manatee County jail. She was released the same day after posting $2,000 bond.
If convicted, the charge carries a $5,000 fine, up to five years in prison and five years of probation.
An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
— Ryan Paice