Palm Coast, FL - Deputies charge a teen with tampering with evidence after they say he chewed on a small amount of marijuana during a traffic stop.
According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, deputies conducted a traffic stop just before 12:30 this morning (September 13th) on a white 1996 Toyota Camry near the intersection of Citation Parkway and Universal Trail after they saw that the car's registration tag was obscured by dirt and grime.
As they approached the vehicle, one deputy looked inside with a flashlight and saw a green leafy substance that appeared to be marijuana on the lap of the passenger, a 17-year-old black male.
The deputy asked the teen to hand over the substance and step outside of the vehicle, which he did. As the deputy began to handcuff him, the other deputy noticed that he was chewing on something.
Believing that he might have been destroying evidence, the deputies ordered him to spit out whatever he had in his mouth. That's when the teen spit out a green leafy substance from his mouth and onto the roadway.
According to the deputy's report, the teen said he wasn't destroying evidence but he was in possession of marijuana.
A quick search of the vehicle yielded another small piece of the leafy substance as well as a ripped sandwich bag in the door pocket where the passenger sat.
The substance was tested on the filed and showed a presumptive positive indication that it was marijuana.
Deputies also conducted a background check on the driver, who was found to be driving on a suspended license.
The report says that his license was suspended back in August due to "financial responsibilities."
The passenger was charged with tampering with evidence and possession of marijuana under 20 grams while the driver was charged with driving with a suspended license.
