Weird News: Driver, passenger each claim giant bag of weed not theirs – Palm Beach Post
The streets of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast are full of wild, outrageous tales you won’t find on the front page.
Here are the most notable recent reports of folks behaving badly:
Drug denial: A vehicle was stopped on Northlake Boulevard near Interstate 95 after a records check showed the driver had a suspended license. With the aroma of freshly burnt marijuana wafting from inside the car, the officer inquired whether there was anything illegal in the vehicle. The driver said that there had been, but it was now gone as he had just finished smoking the last of it. The driver and his passenger were asked to step out of the car. A search of the vehicle revealed a red backpack. Inside the pack, police found multiple bags containing copious amounts of a green leafy substance. In total there was nearly 100 grams of illicit, stinky weed in the bags. The driver, though having just admitted smoking marijuana, claimed the backpack was not his and belonged to his passenger. He then added that he didn’t even know his passenger, despite giving him a ride. In a game not unlike “hot potato,” the passenger then claimed the backpack did not belong to him. His denial, however, was a bit less believable as one of the plastic bags had his name on it. He was arrested for drug possession and later taken to jail. The driver was cited for driving on a suspended license, and his car was towed.
‘Game’ plan: Selecting a video game device while inside a store in the 11200 block of Legacy Avenue, a man took the merchandise and shoved it down the front of his pants. He then proceeded to the bathroom where he removed the contents, and discarded the packaging in a toilet. After re-concealing the product on his person, he left the store without paying. Once outside, he handed the stolen product to an accomplice. The device was worth nearly $100. The store said they would prosecute if the perpetrators are captured.
Ragtag ‘art’: Choosing a property in the 4100 block of Burns Road as his canvas, an artist got to work. Though much of the piece was done in the abstract, or at least no one present could figure out what they were trying to depict, the artist managed to leave his/her mark in a couple of places via a tag that read “OSM.” Not exactly thrilled that his property was the recipient of the artist’s spray painted work of art/mess, the owner said he only wanted the incident documented at the time. He did say he might still consider prosecuting.
Spiriting away: Entering a store in the 4100 block of Northlake Boulevard, a man and woman approached one of the employees and began inquiring about their selection of spirits. Nailing down the store’s offerings, the man selected two bottles of alcohol and set them on the counter for purchase. As the clerk was about the ring them up, the woman asked him for a pack of cigarettes. Likely thinking themselves quite clever, the duo grabbed the two bottles and hurried out of the store as the clerk turned around to get the cigarettes. The two bottles of alcohol were worth over $115.
Shaky relationship: A quiet evening of watching television went off the rails after a man got angry at his female roommate. The man was upset because his roommate had complained that he was shaking the television at their residence in the 300 block of Melody Lane. Whether he was shaking the television and didn’t like being accused or he wasn’t and didn’t like being falsely accused was unclear. What was reported was that he was aggravated enough to punch the roommate in the chest. When the roommate informed him that she was calling the police, he hopped on his bicycle and raced away. Officers caught up with the man, who admitted there was an argument but denied that anything physical occurred. The woman later declined to press charges.
Workplace woes: After a supervisor shouted at an employee at their place of work in the 1800 block of West Lantana Road, the two began approaching each other. The supervisor, whose approach was described as “aggressive” by a third worker, then shoved his coworker to the ground. The employee said the supervisor then stood over him and began shouting. The supervisor did later admit shoving the employee, but stated he only did so because he thought the man was about to punch him. A warrant was filed with the State Attorney’s Office for battery charges against the supervisor.
Gone girl: After spending some time with his ex-girlfriend at a motel in the 1200 block of Hypoluxo Road, a man woke up to find both his debit card and the woman gone. Quickly adding two plus two, the man deduced that his ex must have taken the card. Whether the pair was making an attempt at reconciliation or just trying to finish the relationship on a high note, it was doubtful either scenario had worked out. The man was advised to immediately call and have the card deactivated. Though he said she was his ex and they had been hanging out at the motel, the man did not have a phone number for the woman.
Loud and clear: A woman’s vehicle, parked outside her residence in the 1400 block of South Dixie Highway, was the target of criminal mischief. The perpetrator did not mince words or go with any symbolism. Instead they went with a straightforward approach that included pelting the car with eggs, covering it in toilet paper and writing the words “(EXPLETIVE) YOU” on it in red lipstick. The woman said she did not have any enemies that she knew of and there were no surveillance cameras in the area.
Missed a report? Find more hilarity here.
Some gratitude: Holding his head while outside an establishment in the 1200 block of Main Street, a man who was having difficulty communicating was offered help by police and rescue workers. Believed to be extremely intoxicated, the man at first refused, but then reluctantly agreed to be examined by rescue workers. His reluctance ratcheted up as he started cursing a blue streak while walking to the ambulance. After a police officer attempted to speak with him, he spun around, set his sights on another officer and charged. He managed to punch that officer in the shoulder before he was taken to the ground and placed in handcuffs. Though his hands were restrained, the man’s mouth remained open and continued to spew profanities. Though police only moments earlier had been attempting to help the ungrateful, intoxicated man, he was now telling them that he hoped they died “slow deaths” and calling them “pieces of (expletive).” Before being medically cleared, he managed to kick another officer in the chest. He was taken to jail.
He said/she said: Living next to a workout facility in the 4400 block of Main Street, a man was awakened — not to the smell of fresh coffee and the sounds of birds chirping, but to the sounds of dropping weights and probably a bit of grunting. Less than thrilled about being roused in this manner, he said he walked over to the gym and asked the woman who was working out to stop dropping the weights and to keep the noise down. Though in the man’s story was cordial and respectful, in the woman’s version it was not so PG. She said he aggressively approached her while yelling and getting in her personal space. Both sides were back on the same page with what happened next. The woman shoved the man and said “get away from me.” The management company reviewed the security footage and claimed the man was being the aggressor. Police could not determine a primary aggressor, so no charges were filed.
Pharmacy on wheels: Pulled over in the 6800 block of West Indiantown Road for having an expired license plate, a motorist quickly became a source of interest for police. With the smell of freshly burnt marijuana emanating from inside the vehicle, the driver admitted to smoking the illicit weed in the car, but said it was several days earlier. Asked by police if they could search his vehicle, the man might as well have said please do when he squeaked that he’d rather they didn’t. With probable cause, a search of the car was conducted. Though they did find nearly 100 grams of marijuana, they also uncovered a veritable smorgasbord of other drugs including over seven grams of cocaine, six and a half Xanax pills, 13 THC oil cartridges, highly concentrated cannabis extract known as “shatter” and three packages of colorful candy-like pieces with the labels “Galactic Glass Spaceberry Crunch Sativa” and “Galactic Glass Spaceberry Crunch Hybrid” on the outside. Over $1,400 in cash was also located. The man was arrested for drug possession and possession with intent to sell. He was also cited for having an expired tag.
Bar brawler: Having a bit too many alcoholic beverages at an establishment in the 6200 block of Southeast Federal Highway, a man was not overly appreciative when other revelers offered to call an Uber for him. In fact, his non-appreciativeness ramped up to a rage when he went complete Hulk and began fighting another patron for no apparent reason. Though in an alcoholic rage, the man was not much of a fighter. After he swung wildly and missed his target, the patron punched him squarely in the mouth. The wild, Hulking-out man then went even wilder when he grabbed a screwdriver and chased the patron around the bar. After his intended target got away, he began attempting to fight everyone and, while swinging his arms wildly, managed to punch a girl. Several of the man’s friends managed to get him out of the establishment and into a vehicle. Before they could escape, however, deputies arrived and stopped them. The man was removed from the car. Calling the deputies “bitches,” he also informed them that “no one hits me except my mama and gets away with it.” He was eventually arrested and dropped off at the Martin County Jail.
License-free: Exceeding the speed limit by nearly 30 mph, a motorist was stopped in the 15300 block of Southwest Warfield Boulevard. During the meet-and-greet portion of the stoppage, the motorist informed deputies that he did not have his license. Not that he couldn’t find it or he’d left his wallet at home, that he had no driver license and had never gotten one. In addition, he informed them that he also had no legal identification and that he was in the country illegally. He added that he was, however, attempting to get a passport. In addition to his speeding, driving without a license and being in the country illegally, a fingerprint check showed that he had given deputies a false name and had a warrant for his arrest in Hillsborough County for drunk driving.
Lesson learned: Maybe from out of town or possibly not all that familiar with what happens to unattended, unlocked bicycles in Palm Beach County, a man rode up to an eatery in the 100 block of South State Road 7 and left his bicycle outside, unlocked and unattended. In a likely shocker to the man, but not to anyone familiar with the area — or most of the world today for that matter — he walked out a short time later to find someone had stolen his bicycle. He was able to give deputies a detailed description of the bicycle and added that he had not given anyone permission to borrow or use it. Though it was likely quite a punch to the gut, a valuable lesson was learned. Restaurant employees at that time did not have access to the outside surveillance footage.
Vehicle vandals: Whether they hated the man, his vehicle or both, two women went to town on a car parked outside a residence in the 5400 block of Trevor Circle. Using bricks, a knife and even a machete, the lovely ladies smashed the front and rear windshields, broke the side mirrors, slashed both driver’s side tires and scratched the paint in numerous places. While she only got a glancing look, a neighbor was able to give deputies a description of the two perpetrators. The damage was estimated at over $2,000. There were no surveillance cameras in the area.
Compiled by Eddie Ritz from area law enforcement records
