[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 12/15/19]
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EUSTIS, Florida — A Eustis man who told police he “needs to get out of the game,” was arrested Thursday for armed drug trafficking.
An officer in the Eustis Police Department Special Enforcement Unit spotted a blue Chevy SUV with an obscured tag being driven by a black male northbound on Grove Street. The officer followed the vehicle to a convenience store and down several streets before pulling it over for failing to come to a complete stop at the intersection of North Dewey Street and East Clifford Avenue.
The officer approached the vehicle and told the female driver the reason for the traffic stop and found the male he originally saw driving was now in the passenger seat. There was also a female passenger in the backseat, the affidavit states. The male was identified as Channen Quashie from prior encounters, the officer noted.
The officer smelled marijuana coming from the SUV and asked the driver to exit the vehicle. The driver admitted Quashie was driving the SUV when the officer first saw it on Grove Street. Quashie and the backseat passenger were asked to exit the vehicle and the officer began to search while two other Eustis Police officers waited with the trio.
The arresting officer asked Quashie if there was anything illegal in the SUV and he replied, ”no,” but handed the officer a small bag of marijuana and a “blunt,” a marijuana-filled cigar. In the center console the officer found some marijuana shake, along with an empty holster. Quashie was placed in handcuffs due to being a convicted felon, according to the affidavit. Behind the front passenger seat, police found a white “Jordan” backpack. Inside the backpack, the officer found a large amount of marijuana, later determined to be 745 grams, a Glock 23 handgun and two separate bags of multi-colored ecstasy (MDMA) pills imprinted with a monkey.
Quashie told the officers the females had nothing to do with anything found in the SUV and they were released on scene. Quashie was taken into custody and transported to Eustis Police Department for processing. On the way to EPD, Quashie uttered, “This life is the way his family eats,” and he, “needs to get out of the game,” the affidavit states.
Quashie was charged with armed trafficking of MDMA, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and driving while license suspended. He was released from the Lake County Jail on $86,000 bond. A separate probable cause affidavit for the marijuana was sent to the State Attorney’s Office. Charges are pending, said Eustis Police Officer Lauren Brown.
In April 2019, Quashie was charged with attempted felony murder and discharging a firearm in public after Tavares Police said he fired several shots into Ingraham Park. No one was injured but several bullet holes were found in a vehicle. That case is still open, according to Lake County court records. Quashie is represented by Tavares Attorney Ben Boylston in that case.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. In addition, she has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
