Hernando County Mariner Boulevard traffic stop yields meth, loaded 9mm, two arrests

Hernando County deputies arrested 43-year-old Raymond Alers and 37-year-old passenger Tyler Humphrey after a routine traffic stop on Mariner Boulevard produced methamphetamine, a loaded Canik TP9 9mm and drug paraphernalia, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said. The stop took place at Mariner Boulevard and Tara Street and began when deputies observed an orange pickup with a broken left taillight.

"What started as a regular traffic stop on 02-26-2026 quickly became a significant enforcement action for Hernando County deputies," the HCSO media release states. Deputies called a K9 unit for an exterior sniff; "The K9 quickly alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the truck," the release says. As the driver exited, a bag he had been holding was left on the driver’s seat and became the focus of the search.

HCSO listed specific items recovered inside the vehicle and from the two men. Deputies found a bag on the driver’s seat that contained 2 grams of methamphetamine, and inside a pink Hello Kitty pouch they recovered two glass meth pipes and a loaded syringe containing 3.5 grams of methamphetamine. A Canik TP9 9mm firearm, loaded, was located in the back seat of the pickup. During a search after the passenger attempted to flee, deputies recovered 3.4 grams of methamphetamine, 0.5 grams of marijuana and paraphernalia from Tyler Humphrey’s pockets, the release said.

HCSO reported both men were arrested without further incident. Fox13 Tampa Bay and Yahoo, citing HCSO, reported that Alers was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia, and that Humphrey was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and resisting without violence. Media accounts also noted bonds were set for both men but did not list amounts.

The HCSO release records a statement from Alers on scene: "Raymond said he had borrowed the bag and didn’t know meth was inside." Syndicated outlets Fox13 and Yahoo published additional wording attributed to HCSO indicating Alers said the firearm belonged to his brother and that he admitted ownership of a Hello Kitty wallet but said the matching pouch did not belong to him; the HCSO copy provided to media was truncated on that point and Hernando County public information may supply the complete statement.

The sheriff’s office posted the release March 4, 2026, and included Crime Stoppers information for the public: call 1-866-990-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip from a cell phone, with anonymous tipters eligible for a reward up to $5,000. Fox13 and Yahoo framed the stop as "a clear example of how traffic enforcement, combined with trained K9 partners and attentive deputies, keeps dangerous drugs and weapons off the streets," language those outlets attributed to HCSO. Hernando County booking records will list formal charges and bond details for Alers and Humphrey. For press inquiries, HCSO Community Relations Coordinator Jessica Burns is listed on the release at 352-797-3660.