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Nearly 3 pounds of the drug were found in a hotel room, authorities said. One occupant of the room was arrested.
By JANE MEINHARDT
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 14, 2000
CLEARWATER -- A disturbance call at a Clearwater Beach motel room early Monday became a drug bust that involved almost 3 pounds of cocaine.
"That's a large amount of cocaine," said Wayne Shelor, Clearwater police spokesman. "It's not often that Clearwater investigators come across that large an amount. It was clearly not for personal consumption."
One person was arrested, and officers seized about $1,500 in cash and a 1995 Toyota, police said. A .22-caliber handgun also was found in the room.
Roberto Carlos Perez, 23, of 3316 W Caracas St. in Tampa, was charged with armed trafficking in cocaine and misdemeanor possession of marijuana. He was being held Monday at the Pinellas County Jail in lieu of $100,250.
Officers went to Room 305 at the Americana Resort at 401 S Gulfview Blvd. about 1 a.m. after receiving complaints about noise and other problems disturbing nearby guests.
Shelor said officers talked to the people in the room and noticed evidence of marijuana use.
The occupants, who included Perez, consented to a search, police reported. Officers found 1,255 grams -- 44 ounces -- of powder cocaine in the room, Shelor said.
Packaging material for the cocaine also was found, indicating the drug was to be sold on the street in smaller amounts, Shelor said.
The street value of the seized cocaine was estimated at $44,000, or $1,000 an ounce, he said.
Perez was the only room occupant arrested. On jail records, he listed his employer as WTMP-AM in Tampa. Lawrence Hires, sales manager for the station, said Perez was not an employee.