May 11, 2018
Tommie D. Neal (4-29-85), aka “Yogi” is a
lifelong Bronson native. Neal is known to us at the Levy County Sheriff’s
Office as a person we frequently encounter when he makes poor life choices.
Neal has been arrested and booked into the Levy County Detention Bureau 16
times, beginning in 2003, with charges ranging from driving without a license,
resisting arrest and drug possession. Yesterday was no different.
Deputy Mike Sinclair saw Neal standing
next to a red car parked at a gas pump at a local filling station. Deputy
Sinclair knows Neal does not have a valid driver’s license but at the moment, Neal
wasn’t driving. However, knowing Neal makes poor decisions, Deputy Sinclair
checked to verify Neal’s license was still suspended. It was, and has been
since 2005.
Deputy Sinclair saw the red car depart
the gas station and there was only one person in the vehicle, Neal. Deputy
Sinclair followed the vehicle and as required requested information on the tag
that was attached to the car. This tag was reported stolen in December of 2017.
After being stopped, Neal told Deputy
Sinclair he didn’t have a driver’s license. Because we put safety first, Deputy
Sinclair searched Neal and discovered drug paraphernalia in his pockets. And as
we most often do when we arrest someone who is driving illegally, we tow the
car. But first, make sure there aren’t illegal substances in the vehicle and we
must inventory the contents of the vehicle.
Deputy Sinclair found approximately 4
grams of heroin, prescription Dilaudid and prescription Suboxone; all which are
illegal to possess without a prescription. And additionally, possession of four
grams or more of heroin equates to a trafficking amount.
Neal has been booked into the Levy County
Detention Facility and was charged with trafficking in heroin, two counts of
possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug
paraphernalia, driving while license suspended or revoked (habitual offender)
and the odd moving traffic violation. His bond has been assigned and is
$87,000.00.