A Marion County traffic stop for a speeding violation led to the discovery of marijuana and related paraphernalia.
On February 13, 2026, at approximately 12:50 a.m., the Marion County Sheriff’s Department initiated a traffic stop on IA 163 West for a reported speeding violation.
During the stop, deputies reported detecting the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. According to the criminal complaint, deputies asked the driver, Amanda Hartson, 44, of Sarasota, Florida, to step out of the vehicle to facilitate a probable cause search. Hartson initially refused to comply. Deputies subsequently removed her from the vehicle and assisted her to the ground.
Deputies noted a strong odor of raw marijuana emanating from Hartson. A probable cause search of the vehicle revealed a marijuana grinder containing marijuana in the rear of the vehicle. Additionally, after Hartson was transported to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, a marijuana nugget was discovered in the back of the patrol car.
Hartson is currently being held in the Marion County Jail on a $1,000 cash/surety bond. She faces charges of Interference with Official Acts (simple misdemeanor), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor), and Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana, first offense.
A pretrial conference is scheduled for February 20, 2026.
Editors Note: All information was obtained from court documents related to the ongoing investigation.
