Police: After Man Goes to Court on No-License Charge, Cop Sees Him Drive Away

From the city of Snellville:

A local man was arrested on traffic and drug charges this week after Snellville Police said they saw him get in his vehicle and drive away from city court minutes after answering a citation for driving without a license.

Mauricio Contreras Rodriguez, 20, was arrested and charged with felony possession of marijuana – greater than 1 ounce, possession of drug-related objects and driving without a valid license after a traffic stop at 4:44 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 11) on Oak Road just outside city court.

A Snellville Police Department court officer reported to another officer he saw Rodriguez enter the driver’s side of his 2005 Nissan Pathfinder despite having just left the courtroom for while answering a summons for driving without a valid license.

After confirming he had no driver’s license following the traffic stop, Rodriguez was placed under arrest. A strong odor of marijuana was evident on Rodriguez and he was asked where the substance was located. Rodriguez told police it was in a black bag on the passenger’s seat. Inside the bag was 1.25 ounces of marijuana, a Tupperware cup with residue and a digital weight scale.

Rodriguez was transported to the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office.