Man becomes violent

A 20-year-old Sanford man cursed at police and became violent after being arrested for possession of a pipe that tested positive for crack cocaine. On Wednesday, police were dispatched to the 100 block of Coleman Circle in reference to a suspicious person seen trying to enter a locked vehicle on the street. At first, William Paul Sellers refused to provide identification to police and then gave a false name, according to reports. The suspect then became belligerent and violent, police said. As he was arrested for loitering, police conducted a search and found a small metal pipe that is commonly used to smoke crack cocaine, police said. Sellers was charged with loitering and possession of drug equipment.

Drug, weapons charges

A 20-year-old Daytona Beach man was arrested on drug and weapons charges after police stopped a vehicle. At 1 a.m. on Thursday, a check of a license plate on a vehicle traveling east on 20th Street revealed the registered owner had an outstanding warrant out of Seminole County. After conducting a traffic stop, the driver was determined not to be the owner of the vehicle. However, a male passenger got out of the car and ran. The suspect was later found hiding in a backyard on the 1900 block of South Holly Avenue. The owner of the residence did not give permission for the suspect to enter his property and wished to press charges for burglary, police said. Police also recovered a firearm, which had been stolen out of Sanford, and a bottle of 18 Oxycodone pills, reports stated. Darrius J. Grooms was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, burglary, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of stolen property.

Marijuana bust

Police charged a 24-year-old Sanford man with marijuana possession following a police chase. On Wednesday night, police observed a truck driving erratically near Live Oak Boulevard and Sand Pine Circle. While in pursuit, police observed the vehicle run a couple of stop signs while driving at a high rate of speed. After stopping the vehicle on the 100 block of Borada Road, police smelled freshly burnt marijuana and saw a joint on the dashboard. A further check showed the driver’s license had been suspended for unpaid tickets.

Jose Luis Hernandez was arrested for possessing marijuana, reckless driving, running two stop signs, driving on the wrong side of the road and driving while his license was suspended.

Home hit four times

A home on the 1200 block of Randolph Street has been burglarized four times in the last month. The incidents have occurred day and night, with multiple points of entry, police said. The missing items include a 37-inch LCD television, valued at $500, calculator ($150) two watches ($850), and $214 in cash and coins.

Child neglect charge

A 25-year-old mother was accused of child neglect and possession of cocaine after she left reportedly her young child alone overnight, police said. On Wednesday, police were dispatched to the Budget Inn Motel, 3200 S. Orlando Dr., in reference to possible child abuse. A witness told police that she showed up in the morning to register the child at school and learned the mother had left the night before to go to the store, but didn’t return. After making contact with the mother, Brittany Morrison, police saw the woman trying to discard a plastic bag that turned out to have cocaine and some pills. Morrison was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and child neglect without bodily harm.

Undercover sting yields

prostitution arrests

An undercover police investigation yielded the arrest of a buyer and seller on prostitution charges, according to reports. Shortly before midnight on July 28, the Sanford Police Department Narcotics Unit conducted a street-level prostitution operation near South Orlando Drive and Park Drive, an area where prostitutes frequent, reports stated. Police observed Patricia A. Tagliaferri hitchhiking in the area and watched as a man pulled over in his vehicle. Police then saw the woman performing oral sex on a man in his car. Tagliaferri, 47, of Longwood was charged with solicitation of prostitution and performing a lewd act. Murrell Thomas Sawyer, 44, who admitted paying $20 for sex, was also charged.

On the same night, at 6th Street and Palmetto Avenue, police arrested Gladys M. Cleveland, 51, of Sanford for solicitation of prostitution and performing a lewd act after she agreed to perform oral sex for $20 on an undercover police officer.

At 20th Street and French Avenue, a 46-year-old homeless woman was arrested after she exposed her breasts to an undercover officer. A crack pipe also was found, police said. Carmela Mustapha was placed under arrest for a lewd act and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bicyclist busted for pot

Police stopped a 19-year-old man for riding his bicycle on the wrong side of the street, then found marijuana on the suspect, reports stated. Amarie James Cobbs of Sanford was observed by police associating with known gang members on Aug. 4. During their investigation, police found the suspect with 16 grams of marijuana, packaged for sale, according to reports. Cobbs was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell and unauthorized use of a roadway.

Home break-in

Burglars escaped with stolen items from a home on the 100 block of Odham Drive. Responding to a burglary call on Wednesday, police said intruders probably gained entry to the home through a bedroom window. The missing items include a men’s wristwatch, valued at $222, and a Blu Ray player, valued at $200.