Traffic stop in southern Florida lands two South Carolina men in jail, cops say
Two South Carolina men were locked up in a Florida jail Sunday following a traffic stop where drugs and a gun were seized, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Columbia residents Andre Coker, 44, and Alberto Gutierrez, 34, were arrested on multiple charges, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. The incident was first reported in South Carolina by WLTX.
At about 3:30 a.m., Gutierrez was driving a BMW sedan that was speeding on U.S. 1/Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway in the Florida Keys, the sheriff’s office said. Coker was a passenger in the vehicle.
The BMW was pulled over, and a deputy said the vehicle smelled like marijuana while a THC pen was in plain view, according to the release.
This led to a search, where a loaded .45-caliber Glock, more than 68 grams of cocaine, more than 21 grams of marijuana, and seven prescription pills were found along with $641 in cash, the sheriff’s office said.
Both men were charged with cocaine trafficking, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the release.
Gutierrez also was charged with possession of a firearm by convicted felon and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, the sheriff’s office said.
This is not the first time that Gutierrez has been arrested on drug and weapons charges, according to the sheriff’s office.
It was not clear if Gutierrez had been previously charged in Florida, but Richland County court records show he’s been convicted in South Carolina on drug charges in 2015 and lottery (both conspiracy and intent to defraud) charges in 2017. Gutierrez is also facing a pending charge as a fugitive from justice, according to Richland County court records.
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This story was originally published March 8, 2026 at 2:23 PM with the headline "Traffic stop in southern Florida lands two South Carolina men in jail, cops say."
