Man arrested after telling officers he smokes weed

Sarasota police charged a Bradenton resident with felony possession of crack cocaine this morning after he told officers “I don’t smoke cigarettes; I smoke weed.”

Officers observed Charles Williams drop a cigarette box as they approached a group of people sitting at a park table. When an officer told Williams he dropped his cigarette box, Williams responded by telling them he only smokes weed.

Officers picked the cigarette box off of the ground and found a bag with four pieces of what appeared to be crack cocaine inside. A field test on the substance confirmed that it was crack cocaine, and Williams was placed under arrest and taken to the Sarasota County jail.

The incident occurred in the area of Whitaker Park, at 1401 N. Tamiami Trail. According to a police report, the location in question is known for being the source of several narcotics complaints and arrests.

Contact David Conway at [email protected].