Stopped in Holmes Beach for a seatbelt infraction, a 24-year-old Bradenton man was arrested for possessing cocaine, marijuana and paraphernalia.
Holmes Beach Police Department Officer Joel Pierce detected a strong odor of marijuana after he stopped Brandon M. Starner for failing to wear a seat belt at about 3:30 p.m. Feb. 8 while driving south on Gulf Drive, according to Pierce’s probable cause affidavit.
Starner allegedly handed Pierce the marijuana pipe with marijuana in it and told the officer he had a grinder in the console. Pierce reported that he noticed a clear bag containing a white powdery substance as Starner reached for the grinder.
Starner was ticketed for failure to use a seat belt and charged with felony possession of cocaine and misdemeanor possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. He was booked into the Manatee County jail.
He posted $2,000 in bonds and was released.
His arraignment is set for 9 a.m. March 13 in the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.