Pot Smoking at Packers Party Leads to Charges, Police Say

Perhaps the Packers' play-off loss spurred a Racine man to smoke pot and then drive too fast for conditions. 

Brandon Cole, 23, of Racine, was charged Monday in Racine County Circuit Court with a single count of felony possession of THC and a single misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphrenalia. If convicted, he faces up to three years, seven months, but because Cole is considered a repeat offender, he could get as much as five years tacked onto his sentence.

According to the criminal complaint, Mount Pleasant Police pulled Cole over for driving 43 in a 35 mph zone during slippery conditions on Highway 31 near Bryd Avenue at about 3:30 a.m. Jan. 14. When officers went to the drivers' window, they reported a strong smell of marijuana.

Police say they first searched Cole and then searched his passenger for any contraband but came up empty. Because the smell was not dissipating even with the doors of the car open, officers searched the vehicle as well.

Reports indicate police found both a pipe with the charred remains of marijuana and a pill bottle containing dried marijuana leaves. Both Cole and his passenger were placed under arrest and transported to the Mount Pleasant Police station.

Once there, officers say Cole admitted the drugs were his but said he was only driving 38 in the 35 mph zone. Police gave him a speeding ticket for being three over and then took him to the Racine County Jail for processing. The passenger was given a ride back home and released.

Cole posted a $500 cash bond and has been ordered to undergo random drug testing as a condition of his bond. He will have his preliminary hearing on Feb. 14 before Court Commissioner Alice A. Rudebusch.