Police: Man, 77, ate hidden pot stash in squad car

[March 13, 2010]  IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -- Police in Iowa City accused a 77-year-old man they arrested on traffic charges earlier this year of swallowing his hidden marijuana stash while seated in a squad car.

Authorities served an arrest warrant on misdemeanor marijuana charges Thursday on Howard Switzer, and later released him on his own recognizance.

Police said they observed Switzer making an illegal left turn on Jan. 31 and arrested him for driving with a revoked license. They say that while Switzer was in the back of the squad car, he reached into a coat pocket, pulled out a plastic tube containing marijuana and swallowed most of the contents. They said he also dropped the tube and a glass marijuana pipe on the floor of the car.

Authorities said Switzer has two previous marijuana convictions.

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Information from: Iowa City Press-Citizen, http://www.press-citizen.com/

[Associated Press]

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