Driver Throws Cocaine Around Car to 'Destroy Evidence' Before Being Arrested for 48th Time: Cops

A man who was in possession of a handful of illegal drugs, syringes, crack pipes and a car full of stolen power tools was arrested Monday by Riverside police.

James A. Doran, 60, was stopped around Ogden Avenue and Lionel Road for having an expired registration tag on his car. When the officer confronted him just before 1 a.m. Monday, he said Doran “was sweating profusely and seemed very nervous once speaking to him,” according to a release.

“When the officer pulled over Mr. Doran, he began to throw the narcotics throughout the vehicle,” Chief Tomas Weitzel said in the release. “He was trying to destroy the evidence, including powdered cocaine, rock cocaine and by throwing prescription pills throughout the car.”

Doran was arrested for not having a driver’s license and taken into custody, at which point cops were able to search his car. Despite Doran’s attempts to destroy evidence, Weitzel said, officers were able to recover most of the drugs.

Items found in the search included cocaine, rock cocaine, scales for measuring drugs, drug paraphernalia, crack pipes, prescription drugs like Tramadol, Alprazolam, Dilaudid, Clonazepam and Diazepam, syringes, a replica paintball gun and mask, drills, sanders, a toolbox, an air gun, flashlights, gloves, masks, power cords and air handling devices.

According to police, Doran wasn’t able to explain why there were more than 40 power tools in his car or how they came to be there, though officials said they "appeared to have been taken in a garage burglary.” They said they suspect the burglary took place in either Riverside or a nearby western suburb and are still investigating the incident.

Doran was eventually arrested for six counts of felony possession of a controlled substance, having drug paraphernalia and driving without a license. His prior 47 arrests were for traffic violations, assault, obstruction of justice and having dangerous drugs. He was also involved in seven burglary convictions and nine theft convictions.

--

Mugshot courtesy of Riverside PD