Grind to a halt

A man was arrested for charges of drug paraphernalia following a traffic stop at 12:08 a.m. on Jan. 30.

A University of Arizona Police Department patrol car saw the car on Speedway Boulevard, checked its registration and stopped the vehicle.

The driver told the officer an unloaded handgun in the truck was the only item he should be aware of. The officer said he smelled marijuana as the man handed the officer an expired insurance card, according to the report.

A grinder was in the center console, but no marijuana was in the car, the man said. He also said he had a California medical marijuana license at home.

The officer then located the unloaded handgun and seized the grinder, which contained remnants of marijuana.

The man was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia before his license plates were removed. He was also cited for the license plates violation, then released.

Up in flames

UAPD officers responded to a car on fire in the southwest lot at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at 11:45 p.m. on Jan. 28.

When UAPD arrived at the scene, a Tucson Fire Department truck and firefighters were already there. The vehicle was engulfed in flames.

The woman who reported the incident said she’d seen a Caucasian man in a gray hoodie and blue jeans running north on Seventh Avenue nearby. She thought this was “strange” and believed he may have been involved.

Police contacted the car’s owner who said he was unaware of his missing automobile and filed a stolen vehicle report to TPD.

When asked if he had all the keys, the man replied, he kept one on the driver’s side tire.

“It’s just easier and it’s a habit,” the man continued. “A bad one I know, but I do it all the time.”

No damage was done to UA property and Tucson Wrecker towed the vehicle. No items of “evidentiary” value were found, but photos of the vehicle were placed into UAPD evidence.

Friends in high places

While conducting a security walk-through, two UAPD officers noticed a strong odor of marijuana from a student’s room in Likins Residence Hall at 2:45 a.m. on Jan. 30 .

Police noted an “overpowering” smell of marijuana and Febreze or body spray when the student opened the door in response to the officers’ knock. He allowed them to enter.

According to the police report, the student had red, glassy eyes
and was “fidgeting” as police searched his room and found eight
beer cans.

The student said spilled bong water had caused the smell. He denied smoking but admitted to having marijuana in a desk drawer.
He then pulled a bong out of the drawer that contained marijuana residue. The bong was a friend’s, but he was cleaning it and spilled water on the floor, the student said.

The student was cited and released on a misdemeanor charge of possession of narcotic paraphernalia.