Apr 25, 2011

Lawmaker who slammed immigrant pot-smokers arrested on drug charge

01:07 PMPrint Share
By Douglas Stanglin, USA TODAY

A lawmaker who once criticized the state Legislature by invoking the image of pot-smoking immigrants denies a DUI charge he received after being arrested for alleged marijuana possession, The Providence Journal reports.

House Minority Leader Robert Watson was arrested Friday at a police checkpoint in East Haven, Conn.

The Journal says the police report alleged that the Republican lawmaker's eyes were "extremely glassy and bloodshot" and that he smelled of alcoholic beverages as well as the "distinct odor of marijuana."

In a statement, Watson "vehemently" denies the DUI charge.

The police report said the officer found a "small plastic sandwich bag containing a green leafy plant-like substance and a small wooden marijuana smoking pipe" on Watson after his arrest.

The New Haven Register's Mark Zaretsky, who broke the story in Sunday's newsdpaper, quotes police Sgt. Gary DePalama as saying Watson's vehicle was impounded and his driver's license suspended for 24 hours.

"He had to get a ride" to leave police headquarters, DePalma says, according to the Register.

The lawmaker drew fire in February after saying, in reference to the state General Assembly, "I suppose if you're a gay man from Guatemala who gambles and smokes pot, you probably think that we're onto some good ideas here."

http://content.usatoday.com/communities ... g-charge/1