Staff report

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Collen Courtney Brown, 37, of Newberry, was arrested yesterday after allegedly trying to swallow baggies of cocaine during a traffic stop.

At about 2 p.m. on November 30, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop after a car driven by Brown allegedly failed to yield to another vehicle while exiting a private driveway, nearly causing an accident. The deputy also noted that there was illegal window tint on the front windshield.

The deputy reported that while he was attempting to catch up to Brown’s car, the car abruptly turned into a parking lot and made a U-turn. The deputy placed his patrol vehicle in front of Brown’s car, boxing it in.

Brown reportedly got out of his car, turned his back to the deputy, and chugged a bottle of water. While the deputy reportedly commanded him to step in front of his patrol vehicle, Brown allegedly ignored the commands, continued to “chug” water, and started sweating profusely, despite the cool weather.

After backup arrived, the deputies attempted to detain Brown because they believed he was attempting to swallow evidence; Brown allegedly pulled away, and deputies took him to the ground.

After he was handcuffed, Brown reportedly spit out two clear baggies containing a white substance that later tested positive for cocaine. In addition to about 2.2 grams of cocaine in the baggies, a search of Brown’s person reportedly produced 0.8 grams of marijuana.

Post Miranda, Brown reportedly declined to speak with deputies.

Brown was transported to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries, and he reportedly told a doctor that he’d had cocaine in his mouth before arriving at the hospital.

Brown has been charged with cocaine possession, tampering with evidence, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting an officer without violence. Brown has drug arrests going back to 2006, with at least three local felony convictions and five misdemeanor convictions. Judge Phillip Pena set bail at $50,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.