Authorities identified Dewayne Rose as a six-time convicted felon; he was booked into DeSoto County Jail after deputies said they found an AR-15, 77 grams of methamphetamine and about 11 pounds of saw palmetto berries in his van. He faces multiple charges.
FOX 13 Tampa Bay reported that deputies stopped Rose in Arcadia after alleging he was driving 75 mph in a 60-mph zone. The sheriff’s office said a deputy saw the AR-15 between the seat and center console; a K9 later alerted at both van doors. Deputies also reported finding a digital scale and glass pipe. Authorities said Rose’s license was suspended.
Rose faces charges including methamphetamine trafficking, firearm possession by a convicted felon, drug-paraphernalia possession, knowingly driving with a suspended or revoked license, and harvesting saw palmetto without presenting a permit. He told authorities he harvested the berries in Sarasota but could not provide the required permit. Florida classifies saw palmetto as commercially exploited, making a permit necessary to harvest it. The report said available records did not show that Rose had entered a plea.
