Drug suspect says he works for TSA

A man found in possession of drugs and hypodermic needles told arresting deputies he was a federal agent and didn't want to be arrested for fear of losing his job, according to an arrest report.
A spokeswoman with the Department of Homeland Security could not confirm by deadline Wednesday that Jason Patrick Dyer was an employee with the Transportation Security Administration.
Dyer, 33, told authorities he was with the agency and worked at the Tampa International Airport, according to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.
One of the deputies was patting him down when she was pricked in the finger with a needle that was still in his pocket, the report showed.
That was after Dyer had told her he did not have any needles on him, deputies said.
The sheriff's office responded shortly after 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to a house at 4340 Dristol Ave.
They were called after neighbors complained of a suspicious group of men entering the home, which had been abandoned following a foreclosure, said Sgt. Donna Black, a sheriff's spokeswoman.
The house once belonged to Joseph Paul Carioscia, who was one of the three men found inside, according to the arrest report.
He, Dyer and Seth M. Heiser, were charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Upon arrival, deputies noticed a metal container on the kitchen counter that contained eight blue pills, a needle, a scale and several tiny bags, according to the report.
Also on the counter were two prescription bottles, one filled with oxycodone and the other filled with methadone, deputies said.
Carioscia told authorities he used to own the house on Dristol Avenue but moved out after he could no longer afford the mortgage payments, according to the report.
Bags of methamphetamine were discovered on Heiser during a search, deputies said.
Dyer later told authorities he put the needles in his pocket because he didn't want them sitting on the counter for fear someone would poke themselves, the report showed.
He later admitted he had a drug problem and said he would voluntarily go to a hospital to provide a blood sample to assure the arresting deputy she "had nothing to be concerned about" after getting poked with the needle, authorities said.
Both he and the deputy went to Spring Hill Regional Hospital, according to the report.
The needle was sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to confirm whether any drugs had been placed inside.
Dyer's and Carioscia's bonds were set at $10,500. Heiser's bond was set at $20,500.
Carioscia also was charged Wednesday with one count of violation of probation. He was arrested in November on drug and firearm charges, according to arrest records.