When swallowing pot, don't include the bag

Kingsport man facing charges of drug possession, tampering with evidence

http://www.timesnews.net/index.cgiCONTEXT=story&BISKIT=661328777&id=61819&category=6

By JEFF BOBO

MOUNT CARMEL - A Kingsport man who was charged with possession of marijuana for resale Monday afternoon in Mount Carmel will also face a charge of tampering with evidence after he allegedly broke his handcuffs and tried to swallow a bag of marijuana - including the bag. Mount Carmel Police Department Officer Kevin Ewing was dispatched to the 100th block of Dover Avenue shortly before 1 p.m. Monday on a complaint of strong-arm robbery. Church Hill Police Department Officer Ken Luster had arrived on the scene first and detained James Scott Woods, 26, 1325 Ridgecrest Ave., Kingsport. Although the strong-arm robbery claim turned out to be questionable, a search of Woods allegedly revealed that he had a little more than half an ounce of marijuana in two baggies, a pipe and some cash hidden under a fold of Woods' stomach. "He was then handcuffed and placed in the rear of my cruiser and the marijuana was placed in the front passenger seat," Ewing said. "Three to four minutes later while I was speaking to the (alleged robbery) victim I saw Woods thrashing about in my cruiser. I approached him and could see that he was choking." Ewing said he took Woods out of his patrol car and could see that Woods had freed his hands by breaking the lock on the handcuffs. Prior to that, Woods' cousin, Jessica Hope Lane, 21, 381 Virgil Ave., Kingsport, had been given permission to speak to Woods through a window in the patrol car under the pretense that she would arrange his bail. Luster reported that he saw Lane stick her hands into the patrol car just before Woods' choking episode. "Further investigation showed that Woods attempted to swallow one of the bags of marijuana, bag and all, that was originally placed in the front seat of my cruiser," said Ewing. "Lane gave me a written statement that she had taken the bags of marijuana from Woods, but then dropped them in his lap. One bag was recovered from a fat roll under his stomach, but the second bag could not be found. "I believe that Woods swallowed the bag or passed it off to someone when I got him out of the car when he was choking." Woods was charged with possession of marijuana for resale, possession of drug paraphernalia, and tampering with evidence. Lane was charged with tampering with evidence. Based on the statements of Chastity Jennings, the woman who made the strong-arm robbery complaint, Ewing determined he could not place that charge. Witnesses said Jennings believed Woods had taken $200 from her purse the night before during a party, and Jennings claimed she found the money in Woods' wallet Monday morning. Ewing said he found $187 with the other items found under a fold of Woods' stomach, and that money was seized as drug money. Ewing said he advised Jennings to pursue a private prosecution with the attorney general's office with regard to the alleged theft. Woods and Lane are scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in Hawkins County Sessions Court.