The Bongmobile
Rio Grande, NM
• 10:09 p.m. — A police officer pulled a car over at an Española car wash because he knew the driver had an active bench warrant out of Española Municipal Court. When the officer approached the car he observed a “blue and purple glass smoking pipe also known as a bong” in plain view behind the driver’s seat. The driver said that he used it for smoking marijuana, but said that was the only contraband in the vehicle.
The officer found “a gas mask with another pipe attached to the end of the hose” in the back seat of the car. At that point dispatch advised the officer that there was a recall on the warrant, making it invalid. The officer found a baggy full of an unspecified quantity of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana and arrested the man, who claimed the drugs and paraphernalia belonged to a friend, according to the police report.
Found in the Rio Grande Sun
October 17th, 2007 at 5:46 am
“A recall on the warrant”? Smells fishy to me… I’m guessing the cop knew the kid was holding and used a flimsy excuse to pull him over.
October 17th, 2007 at 5:50 am
Besides it says he “knew” there was an active bench warrant. Since the warrant was recalled, it wasn’t active- therefore the officer didn’t “know” shit. A good lawyer will get the moron off on this technicality. Perhaps the expense will teach him to be more careful in the future. BTW, I wonder if dispatch held off on alerting that the warrant was recalled to give the cop time to search?
October 17th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
“And the plot thickens” with that input Mike! You’re probably absolutely right!
October 19th, 2007 at 6:34 am
the sad part is he didnt need to “know” the guy had a bench warrant to stop this kid. he only needed to feel like he had probable cause and the bong in the seat is justification. his lawyer can try to get him cleared if this ever makes it to trial but with the back log this is just not a very high priority case.
October 20th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Just goes to show….you can’t trust the law