Canton Man Arrested for Driving Under Influence of Marijuana with 6-Month-Old Child

Canton Police arrested a 32-year-old Canton man on Dec. 8 on charges of child endangerment and possession of marijuana, according to a police report. 

While on patrol, police saw a red Dodge Journey fail to stop at a stop sign on northbound Lotz Road at Palmer Road, traveling approximately 65 to 70 miles per hour, the report said. 

Police followed the car in the wet and icy road conditions and saw it pass another car on the left in a no passing zone using the turn lane. The car then stopped at a red light at Cherry Hill Road, but pulled forward while the light remained red, almost hitting a car turning left onto southbound Lotz Road. The driver then continued through the solid red light, the report said. 

Police pulled the man over, who told the officer that he made a mistake at the intersection and did not see the other car turning left, the report said. 

As the officer explained why the man was stopped, he saw a small child in a car seat in the back of the car, who was later identified as the man's 6-month-old son, according to the report. 

The man had glassy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech and police could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the car, the report said. 

The man told police that he was on his way home after spending time at a friend's house and was in a hurry to get back to his wife. He admitted to drinking and smoking marijuana, but said his last beer was several hours ago, the report said. 

The man told police that he had a marijuana joint in the car and that he had a medical marijuana card. The man told police he didn't think the combined alcohol and marijuana affected his driving, the report said. 

The man tested negative for blood alcohol content during a breathalyzer, but was arrested for operating under the influence of drugs and child endangerment. Police contacted the man's wife, and the child was placed in her care, the report said.

Police discovered the joint inside the man's car. After checking on the man's card, police found it had expired Oct. 1, 2012. The man told police he had turned in his renewal paperwork months ago, the report said.