Pot deal text message sent accidentally to cop leads to arrests
Friday, December 26th, 2008 at 10:26 am | By: Radical Russ
Tyler Paper – Tyler Morning Telegraph
LONGVIEW — A text message to a Longview police officer led to a 24-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman being arrested and charged with possession of marijuana.Officer Jason Hampton received a text message from “Sam” about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday “in reference to a drug deal,” according to a news release from the Longview Police Department.
“It was apparent that ‘Sam’ sent the message to the wrong phone number,” the news release stated. “Officer Hampton, who was off duty, contacted dispatch and advised them of the situation.”
According to the news release, the officer set up a meeting with “Sam” at a Chase Bank on West Loop 281.
When “Sam” arrived to meet with Hampton, officers found a bag containing 4.495 ounces of marijuana inside the vehicle, according to the news release. The news release stated that the driver, Samuel Odom, and passenger, Sarah Gillette, were arrested and taken to the Gregg County Jail. Both were charged with possession of marijuana.
OK, kids, gather ’round ol’ Uncle Russ for another dose of common sense for cannabis consumers.
Lesson #1 – Cannabis is illegal. If The Man catches you buying it, selling it, transporting it, possessing it, growing it, and smoking it, he will put you in a cage.
Lesson #2 – When you are doing illegal things, it is best not to have any record of it. That would include video taping, audio taping, photographs, blog posts, cell phone conversations that can oh-so-easily be listened in to with scanners and for Cheech & Chong’s sake that most definitely includes text messaging! In fact, if you’re smart, you won’t even bring your cell phone with you when you make a pick up because that phone’s location can be triangulated even when you’re not using it even when it is not turned on.
Lesson #3 – If you are going to be communicating with someone regarding cannabis using your own cell phone, despite the fact its call log and contact info can be subpoenaed, it’s best not to use your real name, Sam.
