A police officer who stopped a vehicle for speeding Wednesday said he was prepared to let the driver off with a warning, but the man’s suspicious behavior ended up leading to his arrest rather than his release.
Carter County Sheriff’s Department Deputy David Munsey arrested 44-year-old David Robert Taylor, 149 Lick Branch Road, Wednesday afternoon after he found drugs in the man’s vehicle, police said.
Shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday, Munsey said he was operating his radar unit while patrolling on Highway 91 near Bud Roberts Loop. The officer saw a white mustang approaching, he said, and the radar showed the vehicle’s speed at 63 mph in a 40 mph zone.
Munsey stopped the car and identified the driver as Taylor. A check of Taylor’s driver’s license and registration revealed both to be valid, so Munsey said he was prepared to issue a warning.
When he returned to the car to speak to Taylor, however, the man was acting nervous, which raised the officer’s suspicions. Munsey then asked Taylor for permission to search the vehicle and Taylor agreed, Munsey said.
“Upon searching a jacket in the passenger seat, I found what I believed to be crack cocaine inside the upper jacket pocket,” Munsey said. “I also found a crack pipe in his left side jacket pocket.”
After finding the drugs, Munsey said he arrested Taylor and took him to jail.
When officers questioned him at the jail, Taylor admitted he had bought the cocaine found in his jacket just prior to the traffic stop, Munsey said.
During the investigation, officers learned Taylor is a convicted felon with a history of drug charges. Officers who searched Taylor’s car said they found a .22 long rifle round of ammunition in the vehicle’s center console. Officers also seized $465 in cash that Taylor had in his possession.
Due to the amount of cocaine found and the in cash in his possession, Munsey said Taylor was charged with possession of Schedule II drugs for resale. He was charged also with being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition.
Taylor was released from jail after posting a $10,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Carter County General Sessions Court Feb. 10.