Holmes Beach police arrested Lakeland resident Valerie Fortune, 43, July 28 on a third-degree felony charge for allegedly possessing methamphetamine, a controlled substance.
Fortune also was charged with a first-degree misdemeanor for allegedly possessing drug paraphernalia.
Two officers responded to reports of a suspicious incident involving people selling something out of a truck and using someone’s water hose without permission.
The officers spoke with the complainant, who said one suspect headed toward the beach.
The officers found a man and woman, later identified as Fortune, who said they had been selling items out of their truck and had used the water hose to rinse off.
An officer saw a glass smoking pipe inside an open bag and asked about the bag’s owner. Fortune said the bag was hers.
An officer searched the bag and located another pipe and a bag containing a substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
The officers arrested Fortune and confiscated the paraphernalia and meth, then transported her to the Holmes Beach Police Department for processing.
There, an officer weighed the methamphetamine at 0.4 grams. Both marijuana and meth residue were found on the pipes.
Police transported Fortune to the Manatee County jail, where she was released July 30 after posting $2,000 bond.
If convicted, punishment for a third-degree felony charge includes up to five years in prison, five years of probation and a $5,000 fine.
Punishment for a first-degree misdemeanor includes up to one year in jail, one year of probation and a $1,000 fine.
An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 19, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.