A Century man had warrants issued against him and he was later arrested for felony possession of marijuana and tampering with evidence Aug. 28 after authorities conducting a traffic stop for a darkly tinted license plate cover questioned his 17-year-old passenger about evidence tampering.
Ladarrious Tamiraye Lett, 24, 9520 Ivey St., faces felony possession of a controlled substance and evidence tampering when a deputy on patrol on Jefferson Ave. pulled over the 2013 Kia Optima for having too dark a license plate cover discovered marijuana on the ground just outside the right front passenger window, according to an Escambia County Sheriff's Office report.
The report said when the deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Lett, and asked Lett for proof of insurance, driver's license and registration, Lett told the officer the vehicle was not his so he did not have his driver's license but it was valid in Alabama.
The officer observed a right front passenger, identified as 17-year-old Casey Godwin, and asked her for identification. After Godwin provided identification, the officer discovered Lett did have a valid driver's license, the report said.
The officer was alerted by a civilian observer passenger Godwin had emptied a bag containing unknown material out of the right front passenger window where she was seated, according to the report.
After additional units arrived to the scene, the marijuana was identified and Godwin was arrested and placed in the patrol car. The officer conducted a vehicle search and found some green leafy substance in the right front passenger floorboard, which was determined to be marijuana, weighing 25.2 grams, the report stated.
When the officer spoke with Godwin, she said she had known Lett for three months and that as the vehicle Lett was driving approached the deputy's vehicle, Lett threw a bag of marijuana into her lap and told her to dump the marijuana out of the window which she did, then concealed the clear baggie in her bra.
The report stated Godwin was transported to Escambia County Jail and Lett was released with the vehicle, due to shortage of man power. Later, a warrant was issued for Lett for possession of marijuana over 20 grams, destruction of evidence and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Lett was also charged with failure to present driver's license upon demand and a verbal warning for the license plate cover. Lett was arrested and transported to Escambia Conty Jail Aug. 28 and given a bond of $7,500.
