OKEECHOBEE — It’s not often a police officer has a drug deal go down next to his vehicle, but apparently that’s just what happened to a detective with the Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force.

While parked in a local motel’s parking lot Friday, Oct. 30, the detective watched as a man in an electric wheelchair and a woman reportedly conducted a drug transaction. After the money and pills had changed hands, the detective got out of his unmarked vehicle and arrested them both. Steven Page, 63, U.S. 441 S.E., was arrested on felony charges of sale of a controlled substance (oxycodone) and possession of a controlled substance (oxycodone) with intent to sell. He is being held in the Okeechobee County Jail on $20,000 bond.

Also arrested was Heidi Donnelly, 51, S.E. 33rd Terrace, Okeechobee. She was charged with the felony of possession of a controlled substance (oxycodone).

She is being held in the county jail on a bond of $5,000.

According to the detective’s report Donnelly parked her green Ford pickup truck next to his vehicle in the parking lot of the Lakeview Inn and Suites, 3225 U.S. 441 S.E., around 11:40 a.m. When she got out of her vehicle she was approached by the man in a wheelchair, who was later identified as Page.

“As I watched the two subjects make contact, the male subject reached to his right side and pulled a small silver screw-top container from beside him, which was attached to his key ring,” stated the detective’s report.

At that point, continued the report, Donnelly handed Page some cash. He then “... dumped several white pills into his hand and handed them to the female,” added the detective.

Once Page had his money and Donnelly had her pills, the detective got out of his car and approached them.

The detective then collected the pills and cash and logged them into evidence at the sheriff’s office.