MOUNT DORA, Florida—A man wanted for conspiracy to introduce contraband into a detention facility compounded his problems Tuesday when he allegedly tampered with evidence and grabbed Lake County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Noble and refused to let him go.
LCSO deputies responded to Quality Inn, 16630 U.S. Highway 441, Mount Dora to attempt to locate Michael Carl Nieves on a warrant Tuesday afternoon. After confirming his room number with management, deputies knocked on his door and Nieves answered, asking several times if he was going to jail, according to an arrest affidavit.
Deputies informed Nieves, 51, he was going to be arrested and he retreated into the room; deputies told Nieves several times if he did not come out of the room, they would send in a K-9. A female exited the room and told deputies Nieves was in the bathroom and several deputies entered the room.
Nieves yelled from the closed bathroom, refusing to comply and deputies believed he was flushing narcotics down the toilet. LCSO forced entry into the bathroom and K-9 Noble was released to aid in apprehending Nieves.
Nieves fought with deputies, grabbed Noble and refused to let him go, the affidavit states. He eventually let the pup go and was taken into custody. Deputies searched the room and found a large amount of marijuana in the toilet bowl and baggies of prepackaged substances, believed to be crack cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine. Nieves is facing a slew of charges, including conspiracy to introduce contraband into a detention facility, possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, resisting arrest, tampering with evidence, possession of marijuana over 20 grams with intent to distribute, battery on a police K-9 and two counts of violation of probation.
Nieves was transported to AdventHealth Waterman for the injuries he received from K-9 Noble, and after treatment he was booked into the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on no bond.
