The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
When a Florida man was pulled over by police he allegedly tried to ditch a drug pipe out his vehicle window, but the object reportedly hit one of the officers in the face as he approached.
61-year-old Derry West is an ex-convict who lives in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
On April 21, West was reportedly driving his Honda truck near his home when officers working in the area purported that the required amount of light to see the man’s license plate was not present.
The police pulled over West to talk about the situation and they both walked up to his vehicle, one on the driver side and one on the passenger side.
The officer walking up to the passenger side reportedly spotted something flying out of the window of the truck and heading toward him. The officer said the object, later alleged to be a glass pipe used for smoking crack cocaine, made contact with his face as he neared the vehicle.
When he picked up the glass tube off the ground the officer positively identified it as paraphernalia.
The other officer at the scene placed West under arrest and reported that the man chose to speak with them about the incident after he acknowledged his Miranda rights.
According to the police report, West said that one of his buddies left the item in his vehicle and he was afraid he would get in trouble, so he tossed it out the window in an attempt to avoid legal repercussions.
West, who was noted as being cooperative with the officers, was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail for suspicion of drug possession, and felony tampering with evidence. He was incarcerated until he paid a $2,500 bond.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a drug crime, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.