Noseless Man Arrested After Sniffer Dog Finds Meth, Cocaine and Gun in Car
A 46-year-old New York man was arrested in Florida after a police sniffer dog reportedly detected suspected drugs inside a Mercedes-Benz during a traffic stop.
Charles Wilson Pastore, from Brooklyn, New York, was stopped by police in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where officers searched the vehicle after a K9 allegedly alerted them to the presence of narcotics.
According to police, the search uncovered methamphetamine, crack cocaine, cash, mobile phones and a loaded handgun.
Police Discover Meth and Crack Cocaine
Authorities reportedly found about 17 grams of methamphetamine and 3.5 grams of crack cocaine inside the vehicle.
Officers also allegedly discovered $3,515 in cash, several mobile phones and a loaded semi-automatic handgun with an altered serial number.
A digital scale containing what police described as white powder residue was reportedly found inside a backpack in the back seat.
Investigators reportedly suspect that Pastore and the driver of the vehicle may have been working together in the trafficking and distribution of drugs.
Man Faces Multiple Charges
Police also alleged that Pastore was carrying an invalid Florida driver’s licence.
Following the traffic stop, he was arrested and charged with drug trafficking, drug possession, possession of a forged driver’s licence and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to reports.
Pastore was subsequently booked into jail before records showed that he posted $37,000 bail on September 8.
Mugshot Draws Attention
A mugshot released after Pastore’s arrest shows a large opening in the centre of his face where his nose would normally be.
The circumstances surrounding the man’s facial injury have not been established in the available reports, and authorities have not publicly explained how he sustained it.
The case remains an allegation at this stage, and the charges against Pastore have not been established as convictions.
Other Florida Drug and Gun Arrests
The arrest comes amid other drug- and firearm-related cases arising from traffic stops in Florida.
In North Fort Myers, police reportedly arrested Anthony Hallmon after alleging that he threw a container containing fentanyl and methamphetamine onto the road during a traffic stop.
Authorities said the container contained 12 individual bags of suspected drugs. Hallmon reportedly faces charges including possession of a controlled substance, trafficking and resisting arrest.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office also said Hallmon had nearly 40 previous arrests.
In another case, deputies reportedly searched a vehicle belonging to Andrew Awis and allegedly found a loaded AK-47.
Awis was reportedly already serving felony probation and was prohibited from possessing a firearm. He was arrested for allegedly violating the conditions of his probation.
