Pills, pistols found in Sarasota stolen car stop

Two out-of-state men were arrested near St. Armands Circle during a stop of a reported stolen vehicle. The driver, Collin Aymond, 33, of Louisiana and passenger Elliot Clark, 31, of Virginia were taken into custody by the Sarasota Police Department at the 100 block of John Ringling Boulevard.

At about 10:30 p.m. on April 11, officers were alerted that a stolen vehicle from Louisiana had entered the area of St. Armands Circle. After the vehicle stopped at a dead-end street, Aymond exited the vehicle and ran. When apprehended, he made statements about taking the vehicle from a family member.

Clark remained in the vehicle and told officers he did not know it had been stolen. He said he was picked up in north Florida and offered a ride to Tampa and back. 

During a search of the vehicle, officers located two .25-caliber handguns and 35 grams of oxycodone pills. The Louisiana man faces felony charges of motor vehicle theft, two counts of possession of a firearm by other state convicted felon, possession or use of a firearm during a felony and trafficking in oxycodone; and a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence. 

Clark is facing a misdemeanor charge of trespassing a structure of conveyance, stemming from his riding in a vehicle driven by someone without permission.

As of Wednesday, Aymond remains at the Sarasota County Jail on a $38,000 bond. Clark was released on a $150 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 7.