Spring Hill man accused of stealing, trafficking pills

He entered the emergency room with a broken jaw.

It had been throbbing for about 10 hours, according to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

Someone at Oak Hill Hospital contacted the authorities.

Four weeks later, deputies arrested a drug trafficking suspect. He was accused of breaking the other man's jaw.

Justin Lee DuPuie, 22, of 3195 Aberyls St. in Spring Hill, and his friend gave crack cocaine to another man in exchange for some prescription pills during a Jan. 11 encounter, according to the sheriff's office.

DuPuie and his friend confronted the man again for another transaction – only this time they gave him chunks of soap assuring him it was crack, deputies said.

When DuPuie and his friend encountered the man once more, the latter confronted him about the soap. That was when DuPuie retaliated with a punch to the face, according to an arrest affidavit.

After DuPuie hit the man, he reached into his pocket and stole his pills, deputies said.

The injured man's girlfriend, who witnessed the punch, was shown a photo pack and she positively identified DuPuie in a lineup, according to the sheriff's office.

On Tuesday, DuPuie's friend admitted to the drug transactions, but told deputies he didn't participate in the pill theft, said Detective George Loydgren, who investigated the case.

Loydgren said the same friend stayed behind after the pills were stolen and gave DuPuie's name to the injured man.

DuPuie said he punched the man in the face in self-defense, according to the sheriff's office.

DuPuie's charges include unarmed robbery, trafficking, violation of probation and failure to appear.

He was booked Tuesday at the Hernando County Jail and his bail was set at $60,000.