Westport Police arrest driver for allegedly driving under the influence of marijuana

Westport Police made an arrest this past weekend while on a special patrol.

According to Detective Jeff Majewski, on Sunday August 27, Westport Police Officer Jarrod Levesque and Detective Robert Rebello were working a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Traffic Patrol sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Both police officers are certified drug recognition experts in Massachusetts having been trained Nationally as well.

At approximately 5:30PM officers observed a silver SUV headed east on American Legion Highway when it crossed the solid yellow dividing line into the opposite travel lane. As the SUV approached the Rte 88 on ramp police stopped this vehicle. As officers walked up to the SUV a plume of marijuana smoke emitted from the open windows. The driver was identified as Rashaad Tyree Smith-Muskelly, age 27 of Pawtucket,RI.

Officers observed multiple baggies and jars of marijuana which were labeled with potency strengths at 27 percent. Decades ago marijuana potency was approximately 9 percent but medical grade marijuana is commonly seen by police in the mid to high 20 percent levels. Officer Levesque believed the driver was under the influence of drugs and had him perform “Roadside Assessments” to determine probable cause. Drunk Driving tests are called Field Sobriety tests in Massachusetts as opposed to assessments.

The driver told police he had also been smoking at a Marijuana Party. Inside the vehicle officers located a THC Infused drink which was half empty. He told officers he had been sampling different strains of marijuana during the afternoon with friends. A passenger in his vehicle also had assorted brands of marijuana as well.

The driver was arrested for Operating Under the Influence of Drugs (marijuana), Illegal Window tint, and Failure to Stay in Marked Lanes. The driver told police he had a RI Medical Marijuana License.