One participant fled. Hernando deputies said a K9 found him almost completely submerged in a pond.

SPRING HILL – Two people are under arrest after a deputy drove up on a drug deal in progress, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said.

Rebecca M. Lashbrook, 28, of Spring Hill, was charged with one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Lindy Frank Carter III, 36, of Zephyrhills, was charged with one count each of possession of methamphetamine, loitering/prowling, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest without violence.

Deputy David Merced was conducting patrols and security checks just before 10 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 20) in the area of the Spring Hill Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive in Spring Hill.

As Merced approached the rear of the library, in his marked patrol car, he said he spotted a man and a woman behind the library in a dry retention pond. The man immediately ran. The woman approached Merced.

Merced took the woman into custody and notified dispatch that the man had fled. Additional units were dispatched to the area to set up a perimeter. Cpl. Stephen Miller and K-9 Justice responded to the area to track the man.

The man was identified as Carter, who had an active warrant for retail theft.

Merced checked the area where the two were originally spotted and found three syringes, a spoon, and a crystal-like substance consistent with methamphetamine. The woman, identified as Lashbrook, denied
knowledge of any drugs and/or paraphernalia. Deputies searched the bag that Lashbrook had with her and located a syringe cap. Lashbrook to them, “that was from a prior use, and not now.”

Miller and Justice found Carter east of the library in a pond. Carter was almost entirely submerged under water. Justice apprehended Carter by biting him on the head and left arm.

Carter was treated for the dog bite at a local hospital where he received 14 sutures and 15 staples. Carter was then taken to the Hernando County Detention Center.

Photo shows Rebecca M. Lashbrook, left, and Lindy Frank Carter III.

Hernando Sheriff | Crime | Arrests | Tampabay News

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