Cops: Man Refused Search, Drove with Pot

A Stanhope man refused a cop's request to search his car, and minutes later the officer saw a bag of pot in his front seat, police said.

Jake Kostman was charged with possession of a drugs in a car and failure to keep right.

An officer pulled over Kostman after he saw the Stanhope resident drive outside his lane for about 25 yards, police said. The officer smelled raw marijuana coming from Kostman's car and saw a clear plastic sandwich bag containing pot at Kostman's feet, police said.

Kostman wouldn't let the officer search his car, police said. But the officer saw the pot while standing outside the car, grabbed it and showed it to Kostman, police said.

Kostman was processed and released to friends, police said.

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