A Michigan 80-year-old was arrested shortly before midnight Friday on U.S. Interstate 80 after he was involved in an accident, and the investigating state trooper allegedly found marijuana syringes in the octogenarian’s vehicle.
Richard Clayton Lewellen, 80, of 3160 Pritchett Road, Peck, Mich., was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of an accident, failure to maintain control and first-offense possession of a controlled substance-marijuana.
Lewellen was driving a 2014 Chevrolet, according to court records. Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla said circumstances of the accident leading to Lewellen’s arrest have not yet been released.
According to court records, Lewellen told the trooper at the scene “that he had been using liquid marijuana injector syringes as he was driving across I-80.” Several of the syringes were allegedly found in a bag in the back seat of Lewellen’s vehicle.
Lewellen was released from the Dallas County Jail Monday after posting a $1,000 cash bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Oct. 31 in Dallas County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
