A late-night traffic stop in Temple Terrace ended with a convicted felon back in cuffs after deputies say they found two handguns and marijuana in his vehicle, including a pistol traced to a stolen-gun case out of Pinellas County. The stop happened around 11:30 p.m. on June 9 near Harney Road and Morris Bridge Road, according to the sheriff's office.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, deputies identified the driver as 22-year-old Lazaro Ortega Ardiles and pulled him over at about 11:30 p.m. on June 9. In a post on the agency's Facebook page, deputies say they found two handguns inside the vehicle, discovered marijuana, and later confirmed that one of the firearms had been reported stolen in April in Pinellas County. Ortega Ardiles, who has a prior felony conviction, faces multiple charges including felon in possession of a firearm, the agency said.
What deputies say they recovered
Deputies reported seizing two handguns and a small amount of marijuana from the vehicle. One of the guns was linked to an unrelated April investigation in Pinellas County and confirmed stolen, according to the sheriff's office account. The Facebook post did not include information about bond or a court date for Ortega Ardiles.
Echoes of recent enforcement activity
The bust lines up with other recent Hillsborough County enforcement efforts that have turned up guns and drugs during traffic stops and targeted warrants. FOX 13 Tampa Bay previously reported on a separate case where deputies recovered a stolen gun and narcotics during a traffic stop. In another incident, a May stop that yielded five firearms and body armor was cited as part of the sheriff's office's ongoing push to keep weapons out of the hands of people legally barred from having them.
Legal ramifications
Under Florida law, people convicted of felonies are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Violating that prohibition is generally a second-degree felony and can carry stiffer penalties in certain situations. Florida Statutes §790.23 details the felon-in-possession offense and outlines possible penalties.
The sheriff's office Facebook post remains the primary public account of the stop. Formal charges, bond amounts, and court dates are expected to appear in Hillsborough County booking and court records as the case moves forward through the system.
