During the execution of a police search warrant on the morning of December 11 by members of the St. Lucie County Special Investigation Unit, a pair of Port St. Lucie men were arrested at their home on a variety of drug-related charges.
24-year-old Taylor James Knott and 32-year-old Guillermo Ramos were both charged with possession of drug equipment at the home, located in the 400 block of Southeast Walters Terrace. Knott, the target of the investigation, was also charged with possessing more than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of the drug with intent to sell.
Ramos was charged with possessing drug equipment and less than 20 grams of the drug. In addition, he was also arrested for resisting an officer without violence after he attempted to run away when members of the Investigation Unit converged on the home.
The seizure by authorities included partially-smoked marijuana cigarettes, pipes and bags with marijuana remnants in them, $260 in currency, a ledger indicating varieties of marijuana and approximately 27 grams of the drug.
Both Knott and Ramos were released the same day after posting their respective bonds, with Knott’s amount listed at $15,750 and Ramos’ at $2,250.
In each case, those individuals are in need of a Port St. Lucie drug possession criminal lawyer like Jeffrey Garland. During his lengthy legal career, Garland has had a great deal of experience in drug possession cases in both state and federal courts.
The issue of possession of drugs when it comes to laws in the state of Florida is determined by whether or not it’s actual, constructive or joint. In this particular case, the mere fact that the two men were in the home when drugs were found doesn’t necessarily make them guilty of possession.
That’s because the State needs to prove that those individuals were aware of the presence of drugs and had control of them. Simply being close to the drugs in question doesn’t establish that proof, which means that such charges can potentially be dismissed via a sworn C-4 motion.
The search itself, coupled with the techniques used to establish the original warrant are open to question, as are the credibility of potential informants. So if you or someone you know is in need of an experienced Port St. Lucie drug possession criminal lawyer, make sure to contact the office of Jeffrey Garland today.