Crime & Safety

Owings Mills Man Sets Self, Car on Fire Before Police Discover 30 lbs. of Pot

A traffic stop in southern Oregon leads to the discovery of a suitcase full of marijuana and a small fire.

An Owings Mills man has been charged in a number of offenses--including drug distribution and arson--after he set himself and the car he was driving on fire after a traffic stop Tuesday near Klamath Falls in southern Oregon, according to state police. 

Lester Kasten, 45, was quickly pulled out of the rented sports utility vehicle and only sustained minor injuries, police said. Officers found about 30 pounds of marijuana in a suitcase in a search shortly after. Its value is estimated at about $75,000, police said. 

"It was a significant seizure and also an unusual thing for … (Kasten) to do," said Lt. Gregg Hastings, police spokesman. "Fortunately he wasn't injured." 

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The trooper who stopped Kasten was about to search his car when Kasten ignited the fire with lighting fluid, police said. 

Kasten was taken to Sky Lakes Medical Center for a medical evaluation and then to Klamath County Jail. 

Find out what's happening in Owings Mills-Reisterstownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

His charges include unlawful possession and distribution of a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy, second-degree arson, tampering with evidence, first-degree criminal mischief, interfering with a police officer and disorderly conduct. 

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