(March 8, 2024) — On Thursday, March 7th, 2024, at around 10:59 PM, Cape Coral Police Officers conducted a traffic stop on a car in the 4100 block of Del Prado Boulevard South, Cape Coral, Florida. The vehicle had only one working headlight.
Officers approached the car and informed the driver, identified as Katherine Justine Leriche (DOB 02/20/1981), of the reason for the stop. A search of her background revealed she had two warrants out of South Carolina and Tennessee for drug-related offenses. It also revealed she is on probation and had a curfew between 10 PM and 6 AM, was not allowed to have drugs or alcohol, and was not allowed to drive.
Leriche had a Ziploc bag of gummy bears in her hand and continued to hold onto them while being interviewed by police. A police K9 conducted an open-air sniff with a positive result. Officers searched the car and found a gummy bear on the front seat and a baggy of Twizzlers in the vehicle. All items were field-tested and came back positive for methamphetamine (178.5 grams). She told officers she was on her way to an arcade in Fort Myers.
Leriche was taken to the Lee County Jail. Once there, Lee County Sheriff’s Office Deputies found two baggies containing a crystal-like substance in her groin area under her clothing. Both tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine (26 grams).
Katherine Justine Leriche is facing the following charges:
· 1 count in violation of F.S.S 893.13(6)(a) – Possession of Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine
· 1 count in violation of F.S.S. 893.135(1)(e) – Trafficking Methamphetamine/Amphetamine Over 14 Grams
· 1 count in violation of F.S.S. 951.22(1)(h) – Smuggle Contraband into Correctional Facility
· 1 count in violation of F.S.S 948.06 – Probation Violation
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