Police Say Man Passed Out Pot To Passersby In Spirit Of Season

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A 67-year-old man was arrested Saturday in downtown St. Petersburg after handing out Christmas gifts of marijuana to passersby, police said.

According to St. Petersburg police, around 11:30 p.m., officers approached Richard Ellis Spurrier after someone notified them that he was passing out pot to people at 16 Second St. near Central Avenue.

When they approached Spurrier, police said, officers noticed he had bits of marijuana hanging off his right shirtsleeve. In his backpack, officers said they found a bag of marijuana that weighed 1½ ounces, a purple glass pipe and a black digital scale with marijuana residue.

When asked why he was handing out weed, Spurrier replied, "because it was Christmas," police said.

He was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell or distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.