Cops: Man Threw Baggie of Cocaine Out of Car Window

A routine traffic stop on Hillsborough Avenue Thursday morning took a few unusual turns and ultimately ended with the arrest of the motorist.

According to the Tampa Police Department, the incident began around 3:30 a.m. when an officer attempted a traffic stop near the intersection of Hillsborough and Nebraska avenues. As the officer was trying to pull over the vehicle, the driver threw a large baggie out of the window and kept right on going, an email to media form the police department stated.

An officer followed the car while another stopped to retrieve that baggie. The driver did finally pull over in the area of Powhatan and Nebraska, the email said.

While the man was detained, the officer who went back to get the baggie confirmed it contained 35 grams of cocaine. The driver was placed under arrest and put in the back seat of a patrol car.

“A few minutes later he asked to speak with the officer,” the email said. The officer obliged, but when the car door opened, the man “jumped from the rear seat striking the officer with his head and body. “

The officer was stunned for a moment and slightly injured, police said.

The suspect was able to run for a few blocks before being captured again.

The man now faces drug possession, battery on a law enforcement officer and escape charges, police say.

Officers are unable to identify the man as of yet. They say he’s being uncooperative and won’t provide his name.

No further details are available at this time.

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