Two Town Teens Busted Driving Pot-Laden Auto

Bottom line when driving a vehicle containing an illegal substance: make sure both license plates are afixed.

Two teens learned that lesson the hard way as on March 1 while on routine patrol, police stopped a vehicle for failure to display a front plate.

The driver, Matthew Miner, 17, of Nichols Avenue gave police the vehicle ID information and asked why he was stopped.

When informed, Miner told police the front plate was in the glove box.

As police were speaking to Miner and to a passenger,age 15, also of Stratford, a strong odor of unburnt marijuana was detected as coming from the inside of the car.

Both occupants were asked if they had marijuana in their possession or in the car. Minor pointed to the 15-year-old and said "he has it." The 15-year-old handed over six green bags with a green leafy substance inside later positively identified as marijuana.

The 15-year-old, name withheld, was placed under arrest for possession.

When asked if there was any other substances in the car, Miner hesitated, police said, and then said, “I don’t think so.”

Police went to open the driver door and still could smell unburnt marijuana and observed a small scale on the left rear seat, a type of scale that is commonly used to weigh drugs before being packaged for sale.

Police opened the scale and found it had marijuana residue all over it.

The department's drug K-9 officer and dog were then called to further check the vehicle for drugs. Upon inspecting, the dog made several alerts, indicating that there was more drugs in the car.

Upon further investigation, police found a hidden compartment inside the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel. The dashboard was easily removed and two large bags of marijuana was found.

Also found was a large plastic bag with many smaller green plastic bags that police said are commonly used to package marijuana and other drugs. Miner claimed ownership of all of the items found in the car, all of which were seized as evidence.

At headquarters, the weight of the marijuana seized from the 15-year-old was 4.6 grams. The weight of the marijuana seized from the vehicle was a total of 33.4 grams, all of which tested positive for marijuana.

The juvenile was charged with possession or marijuana and released to his mother with a court date of March 11.

Miner was charged with failure to display a front plate, criminal possession of marijuana, possession with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana with intent to sell within 1500 feet of a school.  Bond was set at $2,500 and court March 11.