Woman’s 911 Call Over Traffic Ticket Leads to Drug Trafficking Arrest

A Florida woman is facing felony charges after a complaint about a traffic citation spiraled into a drug trafficking arrest, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident began on June 15 when two Polk County deputies blocked off a roadway to allow utility crews to work on power lines. 48-year-old Gina Redding of Lake Wales drove around the deputy stationed to redirect traffic and was stopped at the other end of the closed road, where she was issued a citation.

Unhappy with the ticket, Redding began following the deputy’s patrol vehicle and called 911 to complain about the citation. Sheriff Grady Judd recounted the moment in a video posted to Facebook, saying she decided to dial 911 simply because she didn’t like the traffic ticket.

Calling 911 for a non-emergency complaint did not go over well with authorities. Due to the misuse of the emergency system, additional deputies pulled Redding over a second time, arresting her and citing her for illegally tinted windows. Before towing her vehicle, deputies conducted a standard inventory search and discovered marijuana inside.

The most serious discovery came later, during booking at the Polk County Jail. An advanced body scan revealed a foreign object, and corrections officers subsequently recovered 28 bags of fentanyl hidden inside a body cavity.

Sheriff Judd addressed the irony of the situation bluntly. “She says she doesn’t deal fentanyl, but it would certainly explain her conduct,” Judd said, adding, “We didn’t visit further, we just put her in jail.”

Redding now remains in custody on charges including felony drug trafficking, misuse of 911, and marijuana possession.