VERO BEACH — A 40-year-old man was arrested after a used syringe fell from his pocket while speaking with a deputy, Indian River County deputies said. The man later admitted he uses the syringe for meth.
Marc Ernest Albritton, of the 500 block of 11th Court, Vero Beach, was charged with drug paraphernalia possession. He was released Saturday from the Indian River County Jail on $2,000 bail.
Shortly before 11 p.m. Nov. 2, a deputy saw a suspicious van parked on the side of the dirt road by the Oslo boat ramp, 300 9th Street Southeast. As the deputy drove closer, he saw a man and woman walking around the van.
The deputy spoke with the pair. The man, later identified as Albritton, told the deputy the van was stuck after he drove it off of the road. During the conversation, Albritton began reaching into his pants pockets.
When the deputy told Albritton to stop reaching into his pockets, Albritton immediately pulled his hands out and a syringe dropped out from his front right pocket, deputies said.
Albritton immediately said “oops” as the syringe hit the dirt road. The deputy then learned from dispatch that the van was stolen out of St. Lucie County, according to authorities.
Albritton and the woman were taken into custody. The deputy asked Albritton what he uses the syringe for and he said “I just use meth.”
Albritton was arrested and taken to the county jail for booking. Details on if the woman was arrested and if the pair will face grand theft auto charges were not immediately available.