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Traffic stop nets drug arrests; deputies honored

By Staff | Apr 8, 2015

Maron Frangie

Two Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies who work out of the Lehigh Acres East Zone substation have been honored for what Lt. Mallard Brown said was outstanding police work.

He described the actions of the two deputies when they were honored at the Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon last Tuesday.

The two deputies, Maron G. Frangie and James Campbell, both spotted a person riding an ATV on the road near Sunshine Blvd. and 40th Street SW on Feb. 23. They stopped the ATV driver who deputies said was initially complaint to their questions.

But while Deputy Campbell was checking the status of the man’s driver’s license, Deputy Frangie questioned the driver while standing next to the ATV.

During that time, the ATV driver admitted that he had marijuana in his backpack which was then searched by deputies and inside they discovered two large Ziploc bags containing marijuana, and a large quantity of cash.

James Campbell

Lt. Mark Mallard told those at the Lehigh chamber luncheon at The Hut restaurant in Buckingham that after the items had been discovered in the backpack, the driver of the ATV restarted his engine and attempted to flee the scene.

However, Lt. Mallard reached out and grabbed the suspect, pulled him off of the moving ATV and chased him a short distance on foot eventually taking him into custody.

The suspect was arrested for resisting and possession of marijuana with intent to sell.

He said a total of $5,060 was taken from the backpack and 130 grams of marijuana was also removed as evidence.

Lt. Mallard said that by asking “probing questions to detect hidden criminal activity,” the deputies were able to turn a traffic violation into a significant narcotics and cash seizure.

MEL TOADVINE Lee County Sheriff’s Deputies Maron Frangie, left, and Deputy James Campbell, are shown here receiving awards from Lt. Mark Mallard at last week’s monthly Greater Lehigh Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon.

Sgt. Matt Chitwood of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office nominated the two deputies for recognition by the Lehigh chamber.

In addition to plaques from the chamber, they were also presented American flags by Modern Woodmen who sponsor the Deputy of the Month presentation. Attending the ceremony from Modern Woodmen were Joseph “Boone” Moore and Leonard Cannova. Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, the actual name of the firm, always presents American flags to the honorees of the deputy sheriff’s presentations.

Traffic stop nets drug arrests; deputies honored

By Staff | Apr 8, 2015

Maron Frangie

Two Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies who work out of the Lehigh Acres East Zone substation have been honored for what Lt. Mallard Brown said was outstanding police work.

He described the actions of the two deputies when they were honored at the Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon last Tuesday.

The two deputies, Maron G. Frangie and James Campbell, both spotted a person riding an ATV on the road near Sunshine Blvd. and 40th Street SW on Feb. 23. They stopped the ATV driver who deputies said was initially complaint to their questions.

But while Deputy Campbell was checking the status of the man’s driver’s license, Deputy Frangie questioned the driver while standing next to the ATV.

During that time, the ATV driver admitted that he had marijuana in his backpack which was then searched by deputies and inside they discovered two large Ziploc bags containing marijuana, and a large quantity of cash.

James Campbell

Lt. Mark Mallard told those at the Lehigh chamber luncheon at The Hut restaurant in Buckingham that after the items had been discovered in the backpack, the driver of the ATV restarted his engine and attempted to flee the scene.

However, Lt. Mallard reached out and grabbed the suspect, pulled him off of the moving ATV and chased him a short distance on foot eventually taking him into custody.

The suspect was arrested for resisting and possession of marijuana with intent to sell.

He said a total of $5,060 was taken from the backpack and 130 grams of marijuana was also removed as evidence.

Lt. Mallard said that by asking “probing questions to detect hidden criminal activity,” the deputies were able to turn a traffic violation into a significant narcotics and cash seizure.

MEL TOADVINE Lee County Sheriff’s Deputies Maron Frangie, left, and Deputy James Campbell, are shown here receiving awards from Lt. Mark Mallard at last week’s monthly Greater Lehigh Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon.

Sgt. Matt Chitwood of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office nominated the two deputies for recognition by the Lehigh chamber.

In addition to plaques from the chamber, they were also presented American flags by Modern Woodmen who sponsor the Deputy of the Month presentation. Attending the ceremony from Modern Woodmen were Joseph “Boone” Moore and Leonard Cannova. Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, the actual name of the firm, always presents American flags to the honorees of the deputy sheriff’s presentations.