Holmes Beach police arrested Bradenton residents Aaron Brown, 27, and Melissa Harbor, 27, March 8 on third-degree felony charges for grand theft of a motor vehicle.
Brown also was charged with a second-degree misdemeanor for driving with a suspended license.
Harbor was additionally charged with three third-degree felonies for possession of crystal methamphetamine, a controlled substance.
On March 8, two officers located a motorist pinged by the city’s license plate recognition system for driving a reportedly stolen vehicle.
The HBPD officers conducted a traffic stop and found three people in the vehicle, including Brown behind the wheel and Harbor in the front passenger seat.
Brown and Harbor said they believed the vehicle belonged to a third passenger, Bradenton resident Darrell Phillip, who they said had been driving earlier.
An officer filed a capias request for charges for grand theft of a motor vehicle and providing false identification to law enforcement against Phillip to the state attorney’s office.
The officers searched the vehicle and found a small bag and two black latex gloves containing a crystal-like substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine.
The officers arrested Brown and Harbor and transported them to the Manatee County jail.
Brown was released March 10 on a $5,120 bond.
Harbor remained in custody under a $2,500 bond as of March 17.
If convicted, punishment for a third-degree felony includes up to five years in prison, five years of probation and a $5,000 fine.
Punishment for a second-degree misdemeanor includes up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.
Legal representatives for Brown and Harbor filed not-guilty pleas March 13 on behalf of their clients.
An arraignment for Brown and Harbor will be at 9 a.m. Friday, April 14, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.