In a late-night incident on Thursday, January 4, 2024, a routine traffic stop on East US Highway 290 and MTE Lane led to the arrest of two individuals in Austin, Texas. The deputy initiated the stop at around 10:25 p.m. after noticing a malfunctioning headlamp and the absence of license plates on the vehicle.

Upon interacting with the male driver, it was revealed that the recently purchased vehicle had an expired registration (02/2023). Developing reasonable suspicion, the deputy sought consent to search the vehicle, which the driver granted. During the search, a white rock-like substance was discovered on the driver's seat.

Further investigation revealed a clear glass smoking pipe falling from the possession of a male passenger. Subsequent searches uncovered a plastic baggie with a similar substance. Both substances tested positive for cocaine. The female passenger, however, had no contraband on her person.

The 58-year-old driver and 65-year-old male passenger, both from Austin, were initially arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance in Penalty Group 1/1-B < 1 gram. While en route to the jail, the deputy noticed suspicious movements from the driver. Upon arrival, additional contraband was found in the back seat, with the driver admitting to attempting to conceal it.

The pair was charged with Tampering with Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair due to their joint efforts to discard the contraband. The total weight of cocaine seized was approximately 3.7 grams, leading to additional charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance in Penalty Group 1/1-B >= 1 gram < 4 grams for both individuals.