By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE – A 33-year-old Ecorse man was arrested on drug charges early last Sunday after attempting to run from police during a traffic stop.
An officer traveling south on Biddle near Emmons at 3 a.m. last Sunday saw Maurice Monroe Sharp driving north on Biddle Avenue in a 1998 red Chevy Cavalier with its headlights out and a cracked windshield. The officer stopped him on Jefferson just south of White Street in Ecorse.
While waiting for Sharp to produce his paperwork, the officer saw marijuana pieces shake to the floor of the vehicle and also detected an odor of marijuana coming from inside it. Sharp produced his driver’s license and registration, but no proof of insurance.
The officer asked for permission to check the inside of the vehicle, but Sharp denied the request and told him to get a warrant.
The officer then called to get one and requested a K-9 unit as well. In the meantime, a record check revealed that Sharp had prior drug convictions.
Sharp then approached the officer and offered him what appeared to be buds of marijuana. As the officer stepped out of his patrol car, Sharp took off running west on White, disregarding commands to stop. The officer then called for backup.
Two Ecorse officers took Sharp into custody in front of a house in the 4500 block of High Street. During the pursuit an officer spotted a plastic bag with marijuana in front of the house and determined that Sharp dropped it.
He then was arrested. The bag, which contained 13.7 grams of marijuana, was taken as evidence.
A search of the car turned up a lined potato chip bag with what appeared to be cocaine and marijuana inside. Crack cocaine and prescription panic disorder medication Xanax also were found and taken as evidence.
Sharp was arraigned Monday in 27th District Court by Judge Randy Kalmbach on charges of a second controlled substance offense, as well as possession of marijuana.
Sharp is being held in the Wayne County Jail with bail set at $150,000, 10 percent. A preliminary examination of the evidence against him is schedule for 11 a.m. Wednesday.