Men Nabbed for Pot, Pills After Caught Speeding on Route 24

Two men received drug charges last week when pulled them over for speeding on Route 24.

Blake A. Lawrence, 36, of 74 King St., Warren, was arrested at 10 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 20. He was charged with two counts of possession of prescription pills, possession of marijuana (first offense), speeding and unlawful installation of tinted windows.

Derek W. Burns, 24, of 1 Katie Drive, Rehoboth, MA, was charged with possession of marijuana (first offense).

According to Chief Thomas Blakey, an officer on patrol approaching the Route 24 on-ramp near Fish Road saw a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed and tried to catch up. Blakey said police clocked the car going 90 to 95 miles per hour.

When police pulled the car over, the officer reportedly smelled an overwhelming odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle. The driver, Lawrence, said he was in a rush to drop off his passenger, Burns, who was getting home late. Blakey said the officer called for back-up and the two occupants told police there was nothing illegal in the vehicle, but that they had smoked some pot earlier.

"When asked if there was presence of anything else in the vehicle, there was no response," Blakey said.

During a search of Lawrence, Blakey said police found a large metal container in his front pocket containing marijuana. During a search of the vehicle, police found marijuana in a tupperware container and a pipe in a black sunglasses case in the front passenger seat.

In an Altoid box, Blakey said police found black pills and a plastic bag containing another black pill, which were later identified as amphetamine pills and Klonopin.