A Marco Island resident was arrested Friday and charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Colleen D. Richter

Marco Island Police Department Officer Tige Thompson saw a Hyundai Elantra with a New Jersey license plate traveling south on Chestnut Court on Marco Island at 10:55 p.m. Friday. The registration tag on the plate had an expiration date of 2005.

Thompson radioed the Collier County Sheriff's Office dispatcher and confirmed the tag was expired.

When Thompson stopped the vehicle, the driver, later identified as Colleen D. Richter, 39, of 530 Tallwood St., Marco Island, told the officer that she had misplaced her driver's license, registration and insurance.

Thompson called the dispatcher again and found that Richter's New Jersey license was also suspended. The dispatcher told the officer that Richter did possess a valid Florida license, but no current Florida vehicle registration.

Richter agreed to empty the contents of her purse on the hood of the officer's patrol car.

Thompson stated in a report that Richter said she needed to retrieve an item that she dropped from her purse. When she did, she leaned down and threw a small, clear plastic bag containing a white power behind the right front tire of the patrol car, according to the report.

Thompson stated in the report the bag appeared to contain cocaine HCI. A field test of the powder confirmed the substance had a presence of cocaine.

Thompson arrested Richter and charged her with possession of a controlled substance and failure to register a motor vehicle in Florida. She was also issued citations for driving while her license was suspended and no proof of insurance.

Richter was taken to the Naples Jail Center.

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