A routine drive in Winter Haven turned into a criminal case on Friday after a pickup truck went airborne over railroad tracks and hit a 34-year-old woman, according to police. The woman who was struck suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene, while the driver was promptly taken into custody. Witnesses told officers the driver was seen tossing items into nearby bushes as police arrived, and investigators later went back and recovered those discarded objects.
According to the Winter Haven Public Safety Department, officers searching the 2022 Dodge Ram found a loaded handgun with ammunition, an open container of rum and drugs packaged for sale. The department’s post lists the seized narcotics as about 19.1 grams of cocaine, 25.2 grams of MDMA (ecstasy) and 27.6 grams of marijuana, each portioned into individual baggies. Police identified the driver as 41-year-old Leondra Denor Salary of Winter Haven and said she showed clear signs of impairment.
Items Recovered at the Scene
Local coverage has highlighted several recent large-scale trafficking busts in Polk County, part of an ongoing regional push on drug distribution that has sometimes involved firearms and multi-agency operations, according to Winter Haven Daily. In that broader context, officers treated the combination of individually bagged narcotics and a loaded gun in the truck as potential signs of trafficking activity rather than simple possession.
Charges and Investigation
The department’s Facebook post states that Salary was booked on multiple felony counts, including armed trafficking of MDMA, possession of cocaine with intent to sell and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. She was also charged with misdemeanor offenses that include possession of cannabis over 20 grams, keeping a vehicle for use in trafficking and resisting an officer without violence. Officers additionally issued citations for DUI and tampering with evidence, according to the Winter Haven Public Safety Department.
What Comes Next
If prosecutors move forward, the case would be handled by the Office of the State Attorney for Florida’s 10th Judicial Circuit, which covers Polk County. The felony charges listed carry substantial potential penalties if they lead to convictions, and the matter will proceed through the local court system if formal charges are filed, per the Office of the State Attorney, 10th Judicial Circuit.
The Winter Haven Public Safety Department has not released further information beyond its published post and is asking anyone with additional details to contact investigators. The city’s police page includes contact information for detectives and the department’s non-emergency line, according to the Winter Haven Public Safety Department.
