Macon radio host says he’s been suspended after marijuana arrest
Macon radio talk show host Shayne McBryde said he’s been suspended indefinitely from his job at WMAC News Talk 940 pending an internal corporate investigation.

McBryde, 37, said he met with Cumulus Broadcasting representatives Wednesday morning after being arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession about noon Tuesday.

McBryde said he was “at the wrong place at the wrong time” when police knocked on the door of a Center Street residence after smelling burning marijuana Tuesday.

An officer responding to a report of a man with a gun on Center Street about 12:15 p.m. Tuesday couldn’t find the man, but the officer smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from 982 Center St., according to a Macon police report.

The officer knocked on the door, and the homeowner agreed to a search of the residence, according to the report.

Seven people inside denied having any marijuana, but when told that a drug-sniffing dog was on the way, McBryde admitted having a small bag of marijuana, according to the report.

Officers say another person there admitted to smoking marijuana.

McBryde was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, while the other six people - including the home owner - were cited for being present where drugs are kept, used or sold, according to the report.

Police spokeswoman Sgt. Melanie Hofmann said McBryde had less than an ounce of marijuana.

He was released from the Bibb County jail late Tuesday afternoon on $390 bond, according to jail records.

Sigh.

OK, Stashers, let us all learn from the lesson of Shayne McBride and that stupid homeowner.  Repeat after me:

• “I’m sorry officer, I really can’t let you into my home without a valid search warrant.”
• “Officer, I do not consent to any searches.”

I know it can be intimidating when a cop knocks on your door.  But if you’ve got people inside smoking pot, letting that officer in your home is a guarantee that someone is going to jail.  You have nothing to lose by asserting your 4th Amendment rights - step outside your door, close it behind you, and politely tell them they cannot enter without a warrant.  Your refusal to allow a warrantless search is not sufficient for the probable cause they’d need to enter without it.  The smell of burning marijuana coming from your home might be enough for them to get a warrant, but that’s a big pain in the ass for them, and they may not want to wake up a judge for what may be a small misdemeanor amount of marijuana.

But suppose the homeowner lets the cops in and you’re holding the bag.  Refuse to consent to any searches.  Don’t just admit to possession and make their job easy.  They threaten to bring the drug dogs?  Fine, if they find the weed on you, you’re no more or less busted than you would have been if you voluntarily showed them your weed.  Refusal to consent to a search is not going to make your charges any worse - you’re not resisting arrest, you’re asserting your rights.

As for the radio deejay, look, if Cumulus Broadcasting wants to remove all of its employees who smoke weed, there is going to be a lot of dead air on that station…