Fort Myers Pair Arrested in Monroe County Stop; Drugs and Handgun Found

Deputies pulled over an SUV near mile marker 84 on U.S. 1 - the Overseas Highway - and arrested two Fort Myers men after discovering a mix of illegal drugs and a handgun, authorities said. The stop occurred at about 1 a.m., and officers initially cited the driver for driving in a bike lane before observing the occupants switch seats, prompting a search.

The men were identified as 44-year-old Diango Daniel Martinez Rodriguez and 58-year-old David Scott Johnson, both from Fort Myers. Deputies recovered about 11.6 grams of cocaine/fentanyl, roughly 2 grams of methamphetamine, THC vape pens, psilocybin mushrooms, a scale and other drug paraphernalia, plus a handgun. Both men were found to lack valid driver’s licenses and to be convicted felons.

Rodriguez faces multiple felony charges, including trafficking fentanyl, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a felon, tampering with evidence and resisting arrest. Johnson faces charges that include possession of a firearm by a felon and driving with a revoked license. Both men were arrested and booked following the stop.

For Monroe County residents and visitors, the case highlights several local concerns. The stop began as a traffic enforcement action in a bike lane, underscoring the importance of lane compliance on a corridor heavily used by cyclists, commercial vehicles and tourist traffic. The discovery of a handgun in the vehicle when both occupants are convicted felons also raises public-safety questions about weapons circulation in the Keys.

The seizure of 11.6 grams of cocaine/fentanyl is particularly notable given the fentanyl-driven increase in overdose deaths statewide. Small but potent quantities can be distributed quickly in local communities or to transient populations that travel the Overseas Highway, amplifying risks to residents, seasonal workers and visitors. The presence of methamphetamine, THC vape pens and psilocybin mushrooms further reflects a range of controlled substances moving through the region.

Law enforcement crews continue to target traffic violations and drug trafficking along U.S. 1, where the unique geography of Monroe County - a single paved artery linking islands - concentrates enforcement opportunities and public-safety consequences. Residents should expect continued patrols and checkpoints aimed at keeping the highway safe for cyclists, motorists and tourists.

The arrests now move into the court system, where prosecutors will pursue the charges against Rodriguez and Johnson. For the community, the episode serves as a reminder to secure firearms and to report suspicious activity, and it reinforces the role of routine traffic enforcement in interrupting larger public-safety threats along the Keys’ busiest roadways.