I-75 traffic stop yields 28 pounds of methamphetamines in suitcase lining

Staff report

MICANOPY, Fla. – Cedric Jabbar Lamb, 47, of Tampa, was arrested yesterday morning after a traffic stop on I-75 reportedly yielded 28 pounds of methamphetamines in a suitcase lining.

At about 7:40 a.m. on Wednesday, a Gainesville Police Department officer working with the 8th Judicial Circuit – Domestic Highway Enforcement Task Force conducted a traffic stop on a Ford Expedition for following too closely and failing to maintain a lane near mile marker 374 on southbound I-75.

The officer reported that Lamb was the driver of the vehicle, and there were three juvenile male passengers; he reported that he smelled fresh marijuana as soon as he made contact with Lamb. Lamb reportedly said he did not smoke marijuana and there was no marijuana in the vehicle. Based on the probable cause of the smell of marijuana, the officer searched Lamb and the vehicle after placing Lamb in the rear seat of his patrol car with the door open and another officer standing by the patrol car.

The officer reportedly found several small pieces of marijuana “shake” on the front passenger floorboard; when he started to search the vehicle’s trunk, Lamb allegedly forced his way out of the patrol car and ran toward the Expedition with the apparent intent of fleeing in the vehicle.

The officers reportedly grabbed him and struggled with him for about three minutes; the first officer pepper-sprayed him, and the second officer deployed her taser and then dropped the taser while the officers continued struggling with Lamb. Lamb allegedly picked up the taser, but the first officer reportedly regained control of it and threw it out of reach. After Lamb was placed in handcuffs and into the patrol car, he allegedly kept trying to push past the officers and flee.

The officer found several backpacks in the rear of the vehicle that reportedly belonged to the juveniles and contained no contraband. A suitcase reportedly contained clothing that appeared to belong to Lamb, and hidden behind the liners of the suitcase were four large vacuum-sealed bags of crystal methamphetamine, totaling about 12,721 grams or 28 pounds. The officer estimated that the street value of the narcotics would be at least $50,000.

Lamb has been charged with trafficking in amphetamines and resisting an officer without violence. He has 23 felony convictions (one violent) and 13 misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served two state prison sentences for drug trafficking and racketeering, with his most recent release in 2021. Judge Aymer “Buck” Curtin set bail at $105,000.

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.