Man Cited For Not Wearing Seatbelt And Smoking Marijuana, Police Say

A 37-year-old Caledonia man is accused of driving his car after smoking marijuana in the Town of Raymond.

Marshall D. Ambrose was charged in Racine County Circuit Court Thursday with one count of operating with a restricted controlled substance in his blood stream (sixth offense), one count of possession of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted, he faces up to 4 1/2 years in prison and $20,500 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

On Wednesday, Ambrose was driving an Oldsmobile on the west frontage road near 3 Mile Road when a Racine County sheriff's deputy on patrol noticed he wasn't wearing a seat belt. The deputy followed Ambrose and pulled him over just north of Golf Road.

As the deputy approached the car he could smell burnt marijuana coming from inside. When he reached the window the smell got stronger and Ambrose told the deputy he smoked the drug before leaving home.

Ambrose was placed under arrest and the deputy searched his car and found a pipe with marijuana inside.

Ambrose was previously convicted of driving under the influence in 1994, 1997, 2001, 2008 and 2010. He's currently being held in Racine County Jail on $7,500 bond while awaiting trial.