INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — An 18-year-old man’s plot to hide a gram of marijuana inside his chewing gum and then eat it after deputies pulled his vehicle over did not end well.
In addition to drug possession, the man, identified as Erick Moulton, also had a 9 mm firearm hidden on his right ankle, reports show. Deputies also discovered that Port St. Lucie police previously arrested Moulton about a month ago for a charge of robbery with a deadly weapon, reports show.
Deputies arrested Moulton on charges of carrying a concealed firearm, tampering or destroying evidence, resisting arrest without violence and possession of marijuana under 20 grams. Moulton was released Saturday from the Indian River County Jail on $31,000 bond.
A deputy conducted a traffic stop about 3 p.m. Friday in the 3100 block of 43rd Street on a green Honda Civic with dark tinted windows. When the deputy approached the driver’s side window, he saw marijuana in Moulton’s hand, clutched near his mouth, reports show.
The deputy ordered Moulton to drop the pot, and Moulton complied. The deputy saw gum attached to the marijuana and determined Moulton tried to eat and destroy the evidence, reports show.
Moulton then refused the deputy’s orders to get out of the vehicle, but was eventually detained. Deputies determined Moulton did not have license to carry a concealed firearm.
Deputies arrested Moulton and took him to the county jail. Moulton has an arraignment at 8:30 a.m. August 15, court records show.