Coral Springs police arrest man after traffic stop reveals gun, cash, and stolen credit cards
Coral Springs, Florida – What started as a routine traffic stop quickly turned into something much more serious in Coral Springs last week, when officers pulled over a silver Nissan Altima for having illegal window tint and ended up arresting the driver on multiple charges.
On the evening of May 16, around 6 p.m., Coral Springs Police initiated the stop at the intersection of West Sample Road and North University Drive. The driver, 22-year-old Omari Shepard Burke of Pompano Beach, had been flagged for having windows that appeared darker than what Florida law allows.
But as soon as Burke rolled the window down, officers noted a strong smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, according to the police report. When questioned, Burke reportedly admitted he didn’t have a medical marijuana card and denied having any marijuana in the car.
That response prompted officers to conduct a search of the vehicle, and what they found inside raised far more serious concerns.
In the center console of the Altima, officers discovered a loaded black and gray Glock 19 handgun. The firearm, according to the report, was within arm’s reach of the driver.
The surprises didn’t end there. Upon further search, police found a wad of cash — $7,546 — in Burke’s left pocket. Additionally, inside a brown backpack located in the back seat, officers discovered eight debit and credit cards. What stood out was that each card had a different name on it.
Police contacted two of the individuals whose names were printed on the cards. Both confirmed the cards had been stolen and had been used without permission to make fraudulent purchases. “They also said Burke did not have their permission to use the cards,” the report stated.
Burke was promptly taken into custody and transported to the Broward County Main Jail. He was charged with theft, unlawful possession of someone else’s identification, and unauthorized use of a credit card. He also received a citation for the illegal window tint that originally drew law enforcement’s attention.
Records show that Burke was released after posting a $3,000 bond.
Cases like this underscore how quickly a minor traffic infraction can expose larger, more complex criminal behavior. What began as a simple tint violation evolved into the discovery of a weapon, thousands in unexplained cash, and multiple stolen identities — all within minutes.
As of now, it is unclear whether Burke has retained legal counsel or entered a plea. Further court proceedings are expected in the coming weeks as the case develops.
Authorities have not released any additional details on whether the firearm was legally owned or if more victims connected to the stolen cards have come forward. The investigation remains ongoing.
This incident serves as a stark reminder that even routine traffic stops can reveal much more than meets the eye — and sometimes, even a dark window can let in the full light of the law.
