Holmes Beach police arrested Parrish resident Desmine Ross, 23, Jan. 18 on two third-degree felonies for possessing cocaine and heroin, both controlled substances.
Ross also was charged with two first-degree misdemeanors for possessing less than 20 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
An officer saw a motorist leaving the Manatee Public Beach around 12:45 a.m.
The officer followed the motorist, ran the vehicle’s license plate through databases and found the registered owner had a suspended license.
The officer stopped the motorist, Ross, and smelled marijuana from inside the vehicle. The officer asked Ross if he had a prescription or if there were cannabis products in the vehicle. Ross replied no.
The officer searched the vehicle and found a purse containing two plastic bags, one holding a leafy green substance that tested positive for marijuana. The other contained a white powder that tested positive for cocaine. The purse also contained a jar with 20 pills that tested positive for heroin.
Another bag contained marijuana and a digital scale and a third bag containing marijuana was in the trunk.
The officer arrested Ross and transported him to the HBPD.
The officer also issued Ross a citation for unknowingly operating a vehicle on a suspended license.
Ross was taken to the county jail, where he remained as of Jan. 26 under $4,000 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 charge includes up to one year in jail, one year of probation and a fine of $1,000.
An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton.