Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Michael Mingura was booked into the jail on a warrant after an officer located a marijuana edible in his possession during a traffic stop.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – On Tuesday, Nov. 6, a senior citizen was detained and jailed on a warrant after an officer located a caramel marijuana edible in his vehicle during a traffic stop.
Michael Mingura, 64, was arrested and booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on a misdemeanor warrant for DUI and possession of drug paraphernalia after being pulled over for not having working taillights. In addition to the 11.5-gram caramel marijuana edible, a search of Mingura’s vehicle also turned up a wooden marijuana pipe with residue and a rubber marijuana pipe, along with a tin can containing marijuana “shake”.
According to a Safford Police report, Mingura was eastbound on U.S. Highway 70 at about 7:17 p.m. when the officer noticed Mingura’s vehicle didn’t have working taillights.
During the subsequent traffic stop, the officer learned Mingura had an active misdemeanor warrant for DUI and possession of drug paraphernalia. At that time, Mingura advised he was aware of his taillight situation and that he was having trouble with a fuse and had attached temporary lights on the back.
After receiving consent to search the vehicle, the officer located the marijuana items. Mingura advised he did not have a medical marijuana card and that he didn’t realize the items were in his car. He said the last time he smoked marijuana was Saturday and the items found by the officer must belong to a friend of his.
Mingura was then arrested for his warrant and was transported to the jail. While at the jail, the officer issued him a citation for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
