Driver arrested on drug charges   

A 31-year-old Key Largo man was arrested Tuesday night for hit-and-run and drug charges after striking a sign and leaving the scene.

Edward Michael Fuller was charged with hit and run/leaving the scene of a crash involving damage to property, DUI, possession of methamphetamines and possession of marijuana.

Deputy Scott Costa was on patrol at approximately 7:05 p.m. when he received a report of a reckless driver southbound on U.S. 1 who may have struck a sign. Deputy Costa got behind the vehicle on the Old Highway near Mile Marker 90. The suspect vehicle, a Buick, veered off the road onto the dirt shoulder and then drifted into oncoming traffic. It then drifted onto the shoulder so much that all four tires were on the dirt.

Deputy Costa conducted a traffic stop. The driver, identified as Fuller, was moving about in the vehicle. Deputy Costa noticed a syringe and a box cutter at his feet in the vehicle. Deputy Ashley Monaco arrived to assist. Fuller was placed into custody. An odor or marijuana was emanating from the vehicle. Sgt. Vaughn O’Keefe and a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper arrived on scene.

Another syringe was found under the driver’s seat as well as 30 small, 50ML empty bottles of whiskey. A partially smoked marijuana cigarette was also found.

The Trooper went to the scene of the crash and found pieces of Fuller’s vehicle there, such as his side mirror.

Fuller said he was having difficulty breathing, so he was taken to Mariners Hospital in Tavernier where he began screaming and generally being disruptive.

Fuller was medically cleared at the hospital and taken to jail.

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