Nothing is better than driving down the open road, windows down, wind blowing through your hair and bringing crack into your car… Wait, hang on a minute, something doesn’t sound right there. However, Joseph Zak, from Port St. Lucie, Florida, thinks that was a totally legit explanation for the drugs found in his vehicle when he was stopped by police recently—the wind blew it in.
- He was pulled over for failing to stop at a stop sign. In other words, it was a driving offense, but a pretty routine one. It’s doubtful that the police officer who stopped him expected to find illicit drugs in his vehicle, though this did happen in Florida, so who knows?
- Before he stopped, police knew something was up. According to the arrest report obtained by The Smoking Gun, Zak was seen “making furtive movements” and “attempting to discard an item out the passenger window.” Uh oh. He was also described as confrontational, with bloodshot, glassy eyes. Come on, Joseph!
- Unsurprisingly, he was arrested. Given that police saw an open beer can in his car, he was immediately cuffed and police asked for permission to search the vehicle. Not long after, they found Zak’s crack pipe and a plastic bag. As the affidavit reads, “Due to the open container violation, he was removed from the sedan and detained in handcuffs for our safety. Zak gave his consent to the search of his vehicle. A search of his vehicle revealed a glass round cylinder commonly used for smoking crack cocaine in the center console. A clear baggie was also located in the rear seat with a whitish residue, which tested positive for crack cocaine.”
- It wasn’t him! Zak claimed that the pipe and the bag weren’t his, and that they were only in the car because either the police or the wind placed them there. Yeah, OK! Before the police stopped him, witnesses reported seeing Zak in the parking lot of a local hotel, drinking and waving around a bag containing a white substance.
- He’ll be back in court on December 3. He was arrested and released on bond after being charged with possession of paraphernalia and is due back in court for arraignment next month.
