Traffic stop leads to arrest of Punta Gorda murder warrant

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — Troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol initiated a traffic stop in Punta Gorda Thursday, leading to an arrest based on a 2016 murder warrant.

The driver of the 2010 Mercedes was stopped around 10:52 a.m. on I-75 near Tuckers Grade Road for a traffic violation.

The driver was 33-year-old Kathy Wong Manivong from St. Petersburg.

She was placed under arrest for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of controlled substances, and endangering a child, as a 12-year-old was also in the car at the time of the arrest.

There was also a 35-year-old passenger named Tony Tongdeng in the car.

Tongdeng was arrested on a valid murder warrant linked to the St. Petersburg shooting on September 25, 2016.

Tongdeng was further charged with giving military personnel a false name, possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and possession of a controlled substance.

The child passenger was placed under the care of the Department of Children and Family Affairs.