A 22-year-old woman was arrested outside a Leesburg store after a loaded firearm was found in her backpack.
At around 10:44 a.m. Wednesday, an officer spotted Dedira Lashay Soloman, of Leesburg, rolling a blunt outside the Family Discount Mart, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. Another officer was called and asked to speak with Soloman.
Soloman was sitting on a window ledge outside the store when she was approached by an officer, who could smell burnt marijuana. When asked if she had any marijuana on her, Soloman handed the officer an opened cigar pouch containing a marijuana roach, the report said.
A second officer then arrived and noticed a white Reebok backpack on the ground between Soloman’s feet. The officer asked if she had anything else on her, at which time Soloman handed him a small plastic baggie of marijuana. She also spontaneously stated she had a gun in her backpack, according to the report
While searching the main compartment of the backpack, officers found a loaded tan and black 9mm Taurus handgun containing a loaded 30-round magazine. One round was already loaded into the chamber. A loaded 15-round magazine and a large bag of marijuana were also found, the report said.
In the front smaller compartment, an opened pack of “White Owl” brand cigarillos was found, the report said.
An opened pack of “Bob Marley” brand rolling papers and an opened pack of “Raw” brand rolling papers were found on Soloman’s person. A search conducted later revealed a blunt tucked into her spandex shorts, the report said.
While Soloman was not a convicted felon, a check revealed she does not possess a concealed firearm permit. She also advised she does not have a medical marijuana card for the 14.9 grams of the drug found in her possession.
Soloman was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a concealed firearm without a license. She was transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $4,000 bond.