Teen Charged After Almost Hitting Police Car

Police stopped a GMC SUV after it nearly struck their squad car near the 7800 block of Lamon Avenue on June 14. After pulling over the teenager driver, officers immediately detected a “strong odor of cannabis emitting from the vehicle,” according to the police report. 

The 16-year-old operator, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, told police he had been “chilling” in his SUV with friends and was on his way to play basketball.

Police noted when they asked the driver for his insurance, he grabbed a handful of papers “and held them up mumbling ‘this is my insurance.’ ” Their report added that the suspect then sat “looking dumbfounded as if not sure what he should do.”

After asking the driver to exit the vehicle, police noticed he was wearing flip-flops and asked him how he intended to play basketball.

“They are the new Michael Jordan flip-flops,” he replied. “I can play basketball in them, not to jump, but just to move around.”

The teen later failed a field sobriety test and admitted to smoking marijuana an hour earlier. Officer also uncovered more than 14 grams of cannabis inside the vehicle.

The driver was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, being under the influence of cannabis and possession of marijuana. His court date is July 11.