DAVENPORT, Fla. (WFLA)— Two people were arrested for a stolen vehicle, drug possession, and child neglect in Polk County, the Florida Highway Patrol announced.
According to FHP, troopers conducted a traffic stop on Wednesday, Jan. 15, after noticing a grey Chrysler Pacifica that was reported stolen traveling westbound on Ernie Caldwell Boulevard.
During the traffic stop, the driver, Stephanie Niccole Hanley, 33, of Davenport did not have a valid driver’s license and told troopers that she took possession of the vehicle on Dec. 26, 2024, to take her son to school.
A search of the vehicle was done and troopers located a black backpack with several controlled prescription medications in a plastic bag as well as methamphetamine inside the backpack, according to FHP.
Hanley was placed under arrest and charged with:
- Burglary to an unoccupied conveyance-unarmed
- Grand theft of a motor vehicle
- Possession of a controlled substance without a prescription-felony
- Possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver or distribute
- Possession of controlled substance-misdemeanor
- Possession of drug equipment
- Operating a motor vehicle without a valid license
As troopers were arrested Hanley, a grey Hyundai arrived on the scene where the driver, Giovanne Junior Rivera Torres, 36, of Orlando told troopers he was Hanley’s Husband.
Troopers checked the Florida tag attached to the Hyundai and found it was not assigned to that vehicle, according to FHP.
Rivera Torres then asked troopers “how long this would take,” because he left Hanley’s four-year-old daughter unattended at home, FHP said.
Troopers responded to the home to find the four-year-old alone and unattended for over an hour. Rivera Torres was placed under arrest for child neglect without great bodily harm.
Hanley and Rivera Torres were taken to the Polk County Jail.
