A Stamford teen was arrested Sunday evening after a partially-opened folding knife visible in the front seat of his car led police to discover a sizable quantity of crack cocaine in his pants, according to authorities.
Police on Tuesday said officers had recently received complaints that drug sales may have been occurring in the area of East Main Street and Standish Road and increased their presence in the area.
On Sunday, September 1, authorities said they spotted Hakeem Atkinson, 18, of Bradley Street, in the area operating an older model Honda Accord while talking on a cellphone and conducted a motor vehicle stop.
Officers who approached the car allegedly detected the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle and spotted a partially-opened folding knife sitting on the front passenger seat.
Atkinson allegedly began to reach between the front seats of the vehicle while officers were next to the vehicle, causing them to pull him out of the car. According to police, Atkinson told them at this point to, "Relax, I'm getting my lighter."
Police said the suspect then informed them they would find some marijuana in the center console of the vehicle, which they said was confirmed when they pulled a medicine bottle with loose marijuana inside from where Atkinson said they would find it.
The suspect, while in custody, repeatedly reached into the crotch-area of his front pocket, police said, and a sergeant told the teen he would be patted down for the officer's safety. Atkinson reportedly told police he would not have his rights violated, at which point he was informed he was already under arrest for the knife present in his vehicle.
Atkinson reportedly informed police this was a "bullshit charge." Officers reportedly informed him it was not.
During a pat-down, police said they discovered a sandwich bag containing 64 individually-wrapped pieces of crack cocaine in the front pocket of Atkinson's pants totaling 14 grams. The drugs were tested using a Valtox testing kit.
Atkinson was charged with operating a motor vehicle without a license, operating a motor vehicle without using a hands-free cellphone, possession of narcotics, possession of less than 4 ounces of marijuana, illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle and sale of certain illegal drugs.
According to police, when informed his bond would be $5,000, Atkinson reportedly responded, "Thanks, my boy got caught the other day with 20 bags and his bond was $30,000."
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