Traffic stop leads to potential controlled substance

A traffic stop for expired plates escalated when the driver tried to eat what may have been cocaine, Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Joe Crider said.

An officer stopped a 24-year-old male in a gold-colored Mercury with expired plates around 11 p.m. Sunday night when he noticed based on his training what appeared to be a plastic bag of cocaine in the vehicle, Crider said.

When the officer at the scene called for a second unit to respond, the operator reached for the bag and started consuming the substance. The operator was then removed from the vehicle and handcuffed, Crider said.

After taking the suspect to IU Health, the suspect said the substance was Adderall but “there was a possibility” it could have been crack cocaine, Crider said.

The suspect submitted to a blood draw to determine if any controlled substances were ingested.

Preliminary charges of obstructing justice and operating a vehicle without a license are pending hospital release, as well as the charge of possession of a controlled substance pending the blood test, Crider said.

No immediate custody or charges have been filed as of Monday morning.

— Jeff LaFave