Police Say Man Hid Marijuana In Bunny
25-Year-Old Faces Charges Connected With Drugs Found In Stuffed Animal
April 6, 2007
By DAN UHLINGER, Courant Staff Writer
EAST HARTFORD -- Maybe Ian Lawrence was hoping the police officer who stopped him Wednesday night on Main Street believed in the Easter Bunny.
And maybe Lawrence was hoping the 16 plastic sandwich bags of marijuana police said they found inside the pouch of a stuffed bunny on his car floor would be mistaken for the grass that rabbits like to munch.
But the 25-year-old town man was not that lucky.
After police searched his car and found more marijuana and a digital scale, police said, Lawrence was charged with possession of marijuana, operating a drug factory, possession with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school and several motor vehicle violations.
At the time of his arrest, Lawrence, of 97 Pendleton Drive, was wearing a red T-shirt emblazoned with the words "D.A.R.E. To Resist Drugs And Violence."
Lawrence, an independent contractor who delivers The Courant, was arraigned Thursday in Superior Court in Manchester.
Judge Raymond Norko, known for his quips at arraignments, seemed amused by the case and especially the Easter Bunny.
"I love seasonal crimes," Norko said.
Norko set bail for Lawrence at $50,000 and scheduled his next court appearance for May 22.
Police said Officer John J. DuPont was monitoring traffic about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday at Main and Brown streets when he saw Lawrence driving fast as he approached the intersection. Lawrence slammed on the brakes and skidded into the intersection before stopping, police said.
Lawrence backed the car up and waited for the light to change. When it was green he drove off and DuPont followed in his cruiser. A short time later, DuPont stopped Lawrence.
DuPont said in an affidavit that he was overwhelmed by the smell of marijuana when Lawrence got out of the car to talk. DuPont said he told Lawrence about the smell and Lawrence allowed him to search the vehicle.
