2 arrested as deputies find stash of pills, bills

A pair in a Wal-Mart parking lot are found with cocaine, Xanax and $2,797 in cash.

By Logan Neill, Times Staff Writer
Published February 22, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT Sylvia Renee Daniels, 31, faces counts of trafficking in oxycodone, drug possession of a controlled substance and possession of a stolen car. Scott Wayne Long, 29, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and giving a false name to authorities.

SPRING HILL - Suspicious behavior by several people inside a Wal-Mart led to two arrests Wednesday and quite a haul for deputies: dozens of prescription pills, plus cocaine and methamphetamine, and nearly $3,000 worth of $20 bills, blank prescription sheets, drug paraphernalia and a stolen car.

Managers at the Wal-Mart at 1485 Commercial Way in Spring Hill became suspicious of several people at the store about 4 a.m. and called the police. Hernando sheriff's deputies responded and questioned four people, including Scott Wayne Long and Sylvia Renee Daniels, in the store's parking lot.

Reports say both Long and Daniels appeared nervous when deputies asked them about their car, a 2007 Kia, with Long trying to block their view of the car's license plate. A check revealed that the car had been stolen in Tallahassee in December.

After arresting Daniels, who was in the driver's seat, on a charge of auto theft, deputies then searched her purse, where they found a bag containing a large quantity of prescription drugs, including 100 oxycodone pills, plus a quantity of clonazepam, Flexeril, Xanax and Valium pills. In addition, authorities also found $2,797 in cash, mostly in $20 bills.

A search of Long's jacket yielded two containers of powdered cocaine and methamphetamine. Also seized were a digital scale, drug paraphernalia and a number of blank prescription forms, plus credit cards, drivers licenses and checks that did not belong to either suspect.

Both suspects have had numerous arrests before in Hernando County.

Daniels, 31, faces counts of trafficking in oxycodone, drug possession of a controlled substance and possession of a stolen car. She is being held in the Hernando County Jail on $38,000 bail.

In addition to a charge of possession of a controlled substance, Long, 29, was also charged with giving a false name to authorities. He has two active warrants in Pasco County and was being held in the Hernando County jail on $4,000 bail.

Logan Neill can be reached at lneill@sptimes.com or 848-1435.

[Last modified February 21, 2008, 21:50:56]