Routine Stop Yields Marijuana Find in Cigar

[Wilbur]

Marijuana found hidden inside a cigar resulted in the arrest of an Alva woman for possession of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school/daycare. Nineteen-year-old Vila D. Morawitz was arrested Nov. 8 when she was stopped by Alva Police Officer Michael Eckhardt for driving with fog lights on a clear day.

As he prepared to write Morawitz a warning, he noticed a beer bottle in the back floorboard. It was empty. Officer Eckhardt was told that was the only empty beer bottle in the vehicle, but he asked, and was given, permission to search the car for more. His search turned up a package of cigars which appeared to be full. However, at least three of the cigars inside were unwrapped.. Officer Eckhardt noticed the odor of what he believed was marijuana coming from them. He took one with its end twisted shut and opened the twisted end. Inside was a green, leafy substance, he believed to be marijuana.

Morawitz said she did not know who the marijuana belonged to. Passengers in the car with her expressed no knowledge of the marijuana. One of them was allowed to drive the vehicle away and Morawitz was taken to the Woods County Sheriff’s Office for booking into jail.

Officer Eckhardt indicated he conducted a post-Miranda interview with Morawitz. During that interview, he said she told him that she knew the marijuana was in the vehicle, but she indicated it was brought into the vehicle by one of the passengers.


Newshawk: User - 420 Magazine
Source: Alva Review Courier (Ok.)
Pubdate: 12 November 2006
Author: Roger McKenzie
Copyright: 2006 Alva Review Courier
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Website: Alva Review/Courier