Crime & Safety
Man Veers Away From Checkpoint, Caught With Drugs
The man - who lives in Anza - veered away from a checkpoint staffed by CHP officers, who made a hot stop on him shortly after 10 p.m. Friday.
A man who allegedly tried to avoid a DUI/license checkpoint -- throwing drugs out the window as he was followed -- was found with a Folgers Coffee can of marijuana and a bag of methamphetamine.
The suspect - who lives in Anza - drove away from the California Highway Patrol checkpoint shortly after 10 p.m. Friday, according to CHP Officer Nathan Baer.
The checkpoint was staffed on Highway 79, about a mile east of Butterfield Stage Road.
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“The driver made a left turn through our cone pattern (and) crossed a painted dividing section, which is two separate vehicle code violations,” Baer said.
“At that time I ran back to my car and accelerated after him to make an enforcement stop on the vehicle code violations he committed.
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“As I was pulling him over the driver was throwing marijuana out the window.”
The man pulled over for Baer at Butterfield Stage Road and Temecula Parkway, where officers searched the vehicle and found marijuana in a Folgers coffee can and in a bag, Baer said.
Officers also found a bag of methamphetamine, he said.
“The driver has a valid drivers license and he said he just got scared and drove through the checkpoint," Baer said.
The man was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance, Baer told Patch on scene.