Florida Man Said Weed Payment For McDonald's Intended As Joke: PD

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL — A Florida man offered marijuana as payment for his order at a McDonald's drive-thru and later told police his barter offer was intended to be a joke, authorities said.

The man, 23-year-old Anthony Gallagher, was arrested for possession of marijuana under 20 grams and for driving under the influence. According to a police report, Port St. Lucie police were called to a McDonald's around 1:45 a.m. on Sunday for the report of a suspicious person. When police arrived on scene, the manager of the McDonald's told police that while he was working the drive-thru window, a man at the counter produced a clear plastic bag that contained a green leafy substance and offered marijuana in exchange for food.

The manager declined the offer and the man, who police identified as Gallagher, left the drive-thru window and parked at a nearby parking lot, according to police. Police were unable to locate the car but remained in the area in an adjacent parking lot.

About 20 minutes later, the manager told police that Gallagher had returned to the drive-thru window. Police said a gray four door Pontiac with a surfboard sticking out the rear window was at the window and an officer conducted a traffic stop. A heavy smell of marijuana was coming from the car, according to police.

Police say the man admitted that he offered marijuana in exchange for food but intended it to be a joke. Police said they found marijuana in Gallagher's pants pockets and in the center console in his car. The officer who prepared the police report wrote that Gallagher's speech was slow and slurred and his movements were slow and uncoordinated. The officer also wrote that the floor of Gallagher's car was littered with French fries and chicken nuggets and molded chicken wings were found in the rear floorboard.

Gallagher was taken to the St. Lucie County jail for booking.

Mugshot via Port St. Lucie Police