A woman who police say had a footlong machete and ax hidden under the driver’s seat was arrested earlier this month after being pulled over in a late night traffic stop in Key Biscayne.
Ashley Nicole Begley, 34, pleaded not guilty and was later ordered released by a judge for lack of probable cause, but the case remains pending, according to court records.
Begley gave a Port St. Lucie address.
According to Key Biscayne Police, Begley was driving a blue Infinity January 8th shortly before midnight. As the car was leaving the village, an officer noticed the car’s North Carolina temporary tag had expired, and she didn’t have a driver license when stopped.
A search found the ax and machete under the driver’s seat. Police also found a tin object they suspected had drug residue. The police report does not indicate any explanation for the items in the car.
A records check found Begley had a “felony past,” police said, without elaborating the details. Begley was charged with one felony count of possessing a concealed weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use, and driving with a suspended license.
Begley, who was released on her own recognizance Jan. 9, is due in court next month for arraignment.
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Tony Winton is the editor-in-chief of the Key Biscayne Independent and president of Miami Fourth Estate, Inc. He worked previously at The Associated Press for three decades winning multiple Edward R. Murrow awards. He was president of the News Media Guild, a journalism union, for 10 years. Born in Chicago, he is a graduate of Columbia University. His interests are photography and technology, sailing, cooking, and science fiction.