Coral Springs traffic stop leads police to a loaded gun, marijuan,a thousands in cash, and ten credit cards not belonging to the driver
Coral Springs, Florida – What started as a routine traffic stop for illegal window tinting quickly escalated into a major police discovery involving drugs, a firearm, and suspected identity theft, according to a police report released this week.
On the afternoon of June 20, a Coral Springs police officer pulled over a black Lexus near 3100 University Drive after observing the vehicle make a sudden, sharp turn. In addition to the erratic driving, the officer noticed that the car’s window tint appeared to violate Florida’s legal limits.
The driver, later identified as 23-year-old Samari Wilson Exantus of Dania, was alone in the vehicle. According to the officer’s report, the moment the car window came down, there was a strong smell of marijuana. That odor prompted the officer to conduct a probable cause search of the vehicle.
What police found inside raised more questions than answers.
A loaded Glock 19 handgun with an extended magazine holding 30 rounds of 9mm ammunition was discovered, along with a pre-rolled marijuana joint and a glass jar containing more cannabis. In addition, officers recovered $3,000 in cash, four cell phones, a laptop, an iPad, and 10 credit cards — all bearing names that did not match the driver’s.
At first, Exantus reportedly claimed the backpack that held the suspicious items was his. But he later changed his story, telling officers it belonged to someone else and that he had brought it back from a boat party.
“Exantus initially told officers the backpack containing the items was his, but later claimed it belonged to someone else from a recent boat party,” the report stated.
Exantus was arrested at the scene and transported to Broward County Jail. He faces several charges, including unlawful possession of personal identification information, carrying a concealed firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of marijuana.
According to court records, Exantus was later released on bond.
Authorities have not yet disclosed whether the 10 credit cards found in the car have been connected to any open fraud cases or if any of the names on them have been identified as victims.
The Coral Springs Police Department has not commented publicly on whether additional charges may be filed or if federal authorities will become involved due to the possible identity theft component.
This case adds to a growing list of traffic stops in South Florida that have led to the discovery of weapons, drugs, and financial crimes, often as a result of minor violations leading to much larger investigations.
As the legal process unfolds, officials say more information may be released in the coming weeks regarding the origins of the credit cards and whether the electronics found in the car contain further evidence.
