Pills, Powder Found On Westlake Man Parked Outside Store: Police

WESTLAKE, OH — Police found pills and powder after they talked to a man who parked his car outside a closed store in Westlake. Investigators believe the pills were Xanax, but the evidence has been submitted to a lab for analysis.

At about 2 a.m. on Wednesday, patrolling officers spotted a car parked in a lot at King James and Center Ridge roads, in front of a closed fur store, police said. The driver, a 42-year-old Westlake man, said he needed a "jump" for his car.

While talking with the man, police began to suspect the man was impaired. Some of what the man was saying was incoherent, according to police.

When searching the man, officers found a tin of breath mints behind the man's belt buckle. Police thought this was an unusual way to store breath mints, according to a Westlake police spokesperson.

Inside the mint tin was a baggie with a powdered substance inside. Police also found several large knives and pills in the man's possession. Police believe the powder and pills are Xanax, but have submitted the evidence to a crime lab for analysis.

Police said the man was taken into custody on suspicion of not keeping control of kar and carrying various weapons. The man refused to take a urine test, police said.