It’s usually not a good idea to play dumb with the cops when they find a sawed-off shotgun in the car. But that’s what one man in Florida said as the police pulled his hands behind his back and put him in handcuffs. They then searched the SUV further and found much more than just the firearm.
Driver and passenger arrested on drug possession charges too
On August 28 at around 2:00 a.m., deputies responded to calls from concerned citizens about a potential suspect vehicle around North 50th Street and Uceta Road in Tampa, Florida, according to a Facebook post by Sheriff Chad Chronister of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
They conducted a traffic stop of the black SUV and found it occupied by 30-year-old Malik Hatcher in the driver’s seat and 37-year-old Ashley McCabe in the passenger seat.
At first, bodycam footage of the incident shows that the stop was going well, with McCabe opening her door to speak with police since they say the right window wasn’t working. One deputy asks Hatcher where he’s coming from and he says the trailer park. However, deputies observed a sawed-off shotgun in the trunk of the vehicle through the rear window.
After Hatcher agrees to step out of the vehicle, deputies then detain him and place him in handcuffs. Confused, Hatcher asks why he’s being detained.
“There’s a shotgun in the truck,” the deputy replies.
“That’s not, I didn’t, I don’t, I don’t know nothing about it,” Hatcher responds.
“You told me you’re a convicted felon,” the deputy says, as a reminder that felons are not allowed to possess firearms.
McCabe was placed in handcuffs as well. However, she also deflects from any possible crime, saying “I didn’t have my car all day.”
Deputies then search the vehicle further and find the sawed-off-shotgun with what looks to be duct tape wrapped around its body. Going through one of the purses in the passenger seat, one deputy estimates finding about 14 grams of “rock.” After looking more thoroughly, they find a total of 67 grams of methamphetamine and various drug paraphernalia.
Hatcher was charged with possession of a short-barreled shotgun, armed possession of a controlled substance, felon in possession of firearm, and felon in possession of ammunition (two charges). McCabe was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and trafficking in amphetamine (28 to 200 grams).
