The driver of an SUV and his two passengers were arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office after several drugs were found during a traffic stop in Ocala.
On Tuesday, at approximately 3:15 p.m., a Marion County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant observed a Lexus SUV traveling southbound near the 5400 block of Baseline Road. The lieutenant recognized the driver, identified in the MCSO report as 28-year-old Trevor James Wheeler, and the lieutenant had prior knowledge that Wheeler’s driver’s license was suspended.
The lieutenant attempted to conduct a traffic stop, and Wheeler continued to drive and made “numerous turns” without stopping. After the SUV had traveled approximately two miles, the lieutenant observed the front-seat passenger – later identified as 26-year-old Kari Nicole Schuer – throw a black bag onto the grass next to the roadway on Juniper Pass Drive, according to the MCSO report.
The SUV proceeded to turn onto Juniper Pass and then came to a stop, and a felony traffic stop was successfully conducted. Several deputies and a corporal also responded to the location of the traffic stop to lend assistance.
The SUV’s driver and two passengers were detained outside the vehicle. The MCSO report identified the second passenger as 43-year-old Richard Brown Street.
The black bag that was thrown out of the SUV’s window during the pursuit was recovered on Juniper Pass Drive. After being read his Miranda rights, Wheeler claimed the bag belonged to him, and he told investigators that Schuer had thrown it out the window to “get rid of it.”
During a search of the black bag, the following items were located: a baggie with a crystal-like substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine; tin foil and a clear plastic bag containing a powdery substance that field-tested positive for fentanyl; numerous empty baggies; and two glass smoking pipes, according to the MCSO report.
Inside the SUV, a purse was observed on the floorboard where Schuer had been sitting. In a post-Miranda interview, Schuer admitted that the purse belonged to her. A search of her purse was conducted, and two pieces of tin foil with a brown substance were found inside. The MCSO report stated that the substance field-tested positive for fentanyl.
A backpack was also found on the backseat of the SUV where Street had been observed. Inside the backpack, the following items were located: a sunglasses case containing a glass pipe, a spoon, and two syringes filled with a black liquid, along with mail that had Street’s name on it. The liquid from both syringes field-tested positive for fentanyl, according to the MCSO report.
Wheeler, Schuer, and Street were arrested and transported to Marion County Jail.
A computer check of Wheeler’s driver’s license revealed that it was suspended, and he has two prior convictions for driving with a suspended license in Lake County (2022) and Marion County (2023).
Wheeler is currently being held at the jail on $19,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer with lights and siren active, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (two counts), and tampering with evidence in a criminal proceeding, along with misdemeanor charges for possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license.
Schuer was released from the jail on $8,000 bond. She is facing felony charges for tampering with evidence in a criminal proceeding and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, along with a misdemeanor charge for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Street is currently being held at the jail on $3,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for possession of fentanyl and a misdemeanor charge for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Wheeler is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11. A court date has not been scheduled yet for Schuer or Street, according to jail records.