Deputies found illegal narcotics after they stopped a vehicle for running a stop sign, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said.

BROOKSVILLE – A Spring Hill man and woman were charged with drug offenses after deputies found illegal narcotics during a routine traffic stop, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said.

Armando Vazquez, 60, of Spring Hill, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and permitting an unauthorized operator to drive a motor vehicle. Deputies said Vazquez admitted that the two had been selling drugs in the area.

Krysta Penney, 24, of Spring Hill, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while license suspended or revoked – second offense. Penney confessed to owning the marijuana found in the vehicle, deputies said.

Early Monday (Aug. 20), morning, J. Mitro and J. Rodriguez, Brooksville patrol deputies, saw a vehicle fail to come to a complete stop at a stop sign while turning onto Broad Street.

Mitro and Rodriguez caught up with the vehicle and conducted a routine traffic stop near the intersection of Broad Street and Candlelight Boulevard.

Upon making contact with the driver and passenger, the deputies said they learned that Penney, who was  at the wheel, was knowingly driving with a suspended license. Vazquez, the passenger and legal owner of the vehicle, was aware that Penney’s license was suspended, yet allowed her to drive the vehicle.

Shortly after the initial stop, Deputies E. Harris and J. Andrews, along with his K-9 partner Valor, arrived on scene and helped Mitro with the investigation. K-9 Valor alerted his partner to the presence of narcotics after a sweep of the vehicle.

Upon a thorough search of the vehicle, Andrews and Rodriguez found 27.4 grams of marijuana, 5.1 grams of methamphetamine, 16 Alprazolam pills, five Oxycodone pills, and drug paraphernalia including scales and needles, as well as five sealed Suboxone sublingual films.

Photo shows Armando Vazquez, left, and Krysta Penney.

Hernando Sheriff | Crime | Drug Bust | Arrests | Tampabay News

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