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3 Accused Of Trying To Eat Cannabis Evidence

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: November 7, 2008

  Christopher Bigelow

  Nelson Adams

  Jonathan Parsons

AVON PARK What started as a traffic stop for speeding ended with three men being arrested for allegedly trying to destroy cannabis evidence by eating it.

Christopher George Bigelow, 19, of 6125 Monegro St., Sebring, Nelson J. Adams, 22, of Zolfo Springs, and Jonathan Edward Parsons, 22, of Sebring, were each charged with possession of marijuana and tampering with evidence.

Additionally, Bigelow was also charged with driving under the influence, while Adams and Parsons were both charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bigelow remained in jail Friday on a $4,000 bond. Adams and Parson were both released Thursday on a $2,000 bond apiece.

Just before 2 a.m., Thursday, Avon Park police officers conducted a traffic stop on a 2003 Ford Sedan after it was observed traveling 61 mph in a 45 mph zone. Bigelow, the driver, was believed to be intoxicated and police conducted field sobriety exercises.

As Bigelow was performing the exercises, a white truck arrived. The subject told officers they were his friends whom he called to the scene to help him remove his vehicle, according to the arrest report.

Both the driver of the white truck and Adams, a passenger, were told to wait by the vehicle while officers conducted the exercises. Police said Adams was visibly intoxicated and became agitated when asked to identify himself. He reportedly continued to interfere with the traffic stop after being asked several times to return to his vehicle.

One of the officers saw Adams drop a small, clear sandwich bag near the front passenger door, which police said can be used to transport drugs.

A canine unit was brought in to conduct a free-air sniff of the truck's exterior, the report stated. The dog provided a "positive alert" on the vehicle.

Officers then searched the interior, where they found a subject, later identified as Parsons, lying in the rear compartment. He reportedly had a "green, leafy substance" on his white T-shirt. A field test identified the substance as cannabis.

Parsons was placed under arrest and seated in the rear of the patrol car.

As officers continued searching the truck's interior, they noticed a lot of movement in the patrol car, the report stated. Police said that when they made contact with the three subjects in the car, they noticed a strong odor of cannabis.

That odor could also be detected coming from the three subjects' mouths as they spoke.

When the three got out of the back of the patrol car, they reportedly had cannabis on their shirts, faces and mouths. There were also trace amounts in the car that was not in there prior to the subjects getting inside.

The green substance found in their mouths and between their teeth was field tested and came back positive for cannabis.

Once officers cleaned the patrol car, the three subjects got back in and were taken to the Highlands County Jail. A clear, plastic sandwich bag containing what appeared to be cannabis was found on the road just under the front of where the patrol car was parked after it left the scene. Field tests came back positive for cannabis.

Cannabis was also reportedly discovered in the console of Bigelow's vehicle.

Police reviewed the patrol unit's in-car video camera after the arrest. Parsons is reportedly heard on tape saying he had a bag of "reefer" in his pants. He and the two other subjects were allegedly heard eating it and trying to conceal it upon their person.

Parsons was also reportedly seen kicking something under the front of the patrol car, which was believed to be the sandwich bag of cannabis.

Jail officials were notified of the substance the subjects had eaten. Maj. David Paeplow, detention commander, said Friday afternoon he received no reports of the three getting sick after their incarceration, adding that cannabis is an organic material and would be comparable to eating grass.

APPD Officer James Parker made the arrest.

Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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