Man arrested after allegedly smoking marijuana on way to work

Massachusetts State Police yesterday morning arrested a Hyannis man, who nearly caused a crash at a construction site, after a traffic stop revealed that he was smoking marijuana while driving to work.
Trooper R.J. Torres was working a paid detail when he observed a white van speed through a stop sign and nearly crash into another vehicle. Torres stopped the van. As he spoke with the driver, Elton Miranda, 25, the trooper saw a plume of smoke inside the van and observed him stomping out a lit object on the floorboard. The smoke had an odor consistent with that of marijuana. At this time Sgt. Timothy Whelan arrived on-scene during a routine detail inspection and assisted Torres with the stop.
The troopers spoke for several minutes with Miranda, who made statements relative to his use of marijuana. Miranda’s speech pattern was described as confused and he drifted from subject to subject.
Whelan placed Miranda into custody for the following crimes: operating under the influence of drugs; negligent operation of a motor vehicle; and failure to stop for a stop sign. Miranda was transported to the Yarmouth State Police Barracks, where he was evaluated by a drug recognition expert, Officer Fitcher of the Yarmouth police Dept. During the booking process Miranda was found to not have a valid driver’s license and has two prior incidents for the same offense. Miranda will be arraigned in Barnstable District Court.