PUNTA GORDA — A Charlotte County Sheriff’s deputy ran a license plate check on a 2004 white Dodge Neon that revealed the car was reported stolen and two arrests were made. Arrested were Tyson Eugene Blake, 30, of Cape Coral, and Kendra Lebeth Miller, 23, of the 2700 block of Lee Street, Punta Gorda. Wednesday, the deputy saw the car at Marion Avenue and Osceola Drive, east of Punta Gorda, and began following it when he learned the car was stolen March 8 from a home in the 2000 block of Wakefield Street in Port Charlotte. The deputy followed the car, which pulled into a driveway at 160 Charlotte Street in Punta Gorda; both occupants exited the car. In the initial stolen car report filed March 10, the owner said he let Blake borrow his car because he asked to use it for only three hours. When Blake never returned it two days later, the owner called CCSO. A search of the car located two duffel bags and a black backpack belonging to Blake. Inside the backpack deputies found a container with two plastic baggies containing methamphetamine. Also located was a digital scale that contained meth residue. Miller advised she knew Blake borrowed the car from the owner on March 8.

Blake and Miller were arrested and taken to the Charlotte County Jail. Both were charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle. Blake was additionally charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Deputies also found a warrant for Miller for failure to appear on possession of marijuana. Blake, a convicted felon, remains in jail on no bond. Miller also is in jail on an $8,500 bond.