[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 08/04/20]
TAVARES, Florida — A Daytona Beach man already facing numerous charges added two more July 25 when a Lake County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy spotted him removing a piece of a glove containing Xanax from his anus and attempting to swallow it, according to an arrest affidavit.
Around 3:30 p.m. July 25, an LCSO deputy observed Stephan Dale Wahl, 38, driving recklessly around U.S. Highway 441 and County Road 44B in Mount Dora. The deputy activated his emergency lights and Wahl slowed the Dodge Ram he was driving almost to a complete stop, according to the affidavit. Other deputies arrived and Wahl took off at a high rate of speed, nearly hitting other vehicles.
Deputies began canvassing U.S. Highway 441 and found the Dodge Ram parked behind an abandoned building at 11225 West Burleigh Boulevard, Tavares, the affidavit states. A deputy saw Wahl digging into the ground and putting items into a black box, and when the deputy announced himself, Wahl allegedly attempted to throw the box under the building. Deputies found the box and it contained gloves with sealed off tips, along with gloves missing the tips. The sealed gloves contained 159 Xanax pills, according to the affidavit. Wahl denied the box was his and “spontaneously uttered” the Xanax pills were not his. Wahl was charged with fleeing and eluding, possession of Xanax and driving with a suspended license and was transported to the Lake County Jail.
Later that same evening, after being booked into LCJ, Wahl was in the shower around 10:45 p.m. when a detention deputy saw, “a blue object, which appeared to be a latex glove protruding out of inmate Wahl’s anus,” the affidavit states.
Wahl was placed into a cell for observation and observed pulling the blue object out of his anus and attempting to swallow it. Detention deputies prevented Wahl from swallowing the piece of the glove and found multiple Xanax pills inside. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance and introduction of contraband into a correctional facility. Wahl was also charged with violation of probation stemming from a 2019 Volusia County felony case. He is being held on no bond.
_______________________________
Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. 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]
