By Patti Weaver
STILLWATER — A 36-year-old man from Seattle, who was arrested following a traffic stop by Perkins Police Officer Tyson Lester, has been charged with possessing cocaine with intent to distribute, having drug paraphernalia and carrying metal knuckles in his pants pocket.
Richard Darren Veit remains free on $20,000 bond pending his Dec. 18 arraignment on the three-count charge punishable on conviction by as much as eight years and 30 days incarceration plus $101,250 fines, court records show.
Veit was arrested at 12:47 am on Nov. 19 after a traffic stop in Perkins at 12:04 am on Highway 177 south, in which his Civic in the outside lane approaching W. Freeman “entered the intersection and began switching to the inside lane in a rapid, jerking motion before activating the driver side turn signal,” an affidavit alleged.
The Perkins officer alleged in his affidavit, “I observed a large knife sitting in the passenger seat and a case of Coors Light that had been opened in the passenger side floorboard, which had some of the beer cans missing.
“I then observed what appeared to be an empty Coors Light with the lid missing in a bag in the passenger side floorboard. I asked Veit when the last time he consumed alcohol was. Veit stated he consumed a Modelo earlier in Tulsa. I asked Veit what brought him to Oklahoma.
“Veit stated he came from Washington to Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Chicago, Mount Home (Arkansas), Springfield and then to Tulsa and was on his way back to Seattle, Washington.
“I asked Veit if he had friends in these locations. Veit stated no and that he was on a road trip and had ‘Bumble’ (dating site) dates. I asked Veit why he was going south if he was going back to Seattle. Veit stated he thought he was going west but was ‘zig zagging’ back roads back to Seattle.
“I walked to the driver side and asked Veit to exit the Civic. Veit was hesitant and rolled all the windows up on the Civic and sat there. I knocked on the window and instructed Veit out of the Civic. Veit informed me that he had a pair of metal knuckles in his right jacket pocket.
“Veit exited the Civic and locked all the doors, which was unusual behavior compared to the normal reactions I have from individuals instructed to exit vehicles. I patted Veit down for weapons where I felt a metal object in his left pocket. Veit informed me that it was another pair of metal knuckles. I informed Veit that metal knuckles were illegal in the state of Oklahoma.
“I asked Veit if there was any illegal narcotics in the Civic. Veit stated no. I asked Veit if he would allow me to search the Civic. Veit stated no and got visibly nervous due to his shaking and change in speech. I informed Veit that his story did not make any sense.
“Veit’s story then changed to that he was seeing friends in Philadelphia, Minneapolis and Chicago, which contradicted his earlier statements….Veit had been checked on by Payne County Deputy Cooper Tanner prior to my stop. Deputy Tanner informed me that Veit stated prior that he had visited friends in every location including Arkansas and Tulsa.
“I asked Veit why he informed Deputy Tanner he had friends in every location but told me he knew nobody in the locations. Veit stated that he did not tell Deputy Tanner that he was in Arkansas or Tulsa. I asked Veit why Deputy Tanner knew he was in those locations. Veit got a blank stare and got argumentative.
“I asked dispatch to start me a narcotics canine. Veit appeared more nervous and started pacing back and forth and began asking for his lawyer. Dispatch informed me that no canines were available. At approximately 12:47 am I placed Veit under arrest for unlawful carry of a weapon and placed him in the prisoner compartment of my unit. I asked dispatch to start me the next available wrecker.
“I began taking inventory of the contents of the Civic. I opened the center console to check for items of value. I observed a clear plastic baggy containing a large quantity of a white powdery substance, which later tested presumptive positive for cocaine. I also observed two black straws that had a powdery residue inside them. I popped the trunk where I observed multiple (73) plastic zip lock baggies sticking out from underneath the spare tire.
“I then looked underneath the driver’s seat where I observed a weight scale that was covered in a white powder residue. I seized all these items for evidence. The baggy with the powder substance (21.2 grams) was packaged for further analysis at OSBI. Veit’s cellphone was seized.”
