A Central Florida traffic stop led to the arrest of a repeat offender with a history of drug and weapon charges.
This month, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office’s Street Crimes Unit conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of South Falkenburg Road and Progress Boulevard in Tampa, where they came into contact with the driver of the vehicle, 42-year-old Rodney Sutton.
Deputies determined Sutton was driving with a suspended license and took him into custody. Through investigative means, deputies found a small bag of cocaine on Sutton and located drug paraphernalia and a ten-inch blade concealed inside the car.
According to law enforcement, Sutton is a nine-time convicted felon and is now facing multiple additional charges that include:
- Felon Carrying a Concealed Weapon
- Driving while License Canceled, Suspended, or Revoked (3rd Offense)
- Possession of Cocaine
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
“Thanks to the diligent work of our deputies, we have successfully arrested a dangerous individual with a lengthy criminal record,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Our efforts to maintain safety and protect our community are strengthened when individuals like Sutton, who repeatedly disregard the law, are removed from our streets.”
According to local law enforcement, Sutton’s criminal history includes prior charges for carrying a concealed weapon as a felon, resisting arrest, narcotics possession and trafficking, and various traffic violations.
