A Waterloo man with active arrest warrants was taken into custody last week on Thursday, October 2nd, after Fairfield Police discovered marijuana in his vehicle.
According to police reports, officers observed a black Tesla Model S parked at the Hy-Vee gas station in Fairfield. After running the vehicle’s license plate through Jefferson County dispatch, officers learned that the registered owner, Justin Muto, 38, of Waterloo, Iowa, had two active arrest warrants issued by the Ottumwa Police Department.
Officers approached the vehicle and made contact with a man sitting in the driver’s seat, who identified himself as Justin Muto. Dispatch confirmed his identity and the existence of the outstanding warrants.
While speaking with Muto, officers reported detecting a strong odor of fresh marijuana coming from the vehicle. A probable cause search was conducted, during which officers located several plastic baggies containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, along with a small marijuana shaker found on the passenger-side floorboard.
Following the search, Muto was taken into custody and charged with the following offenses:
- Possession of Controlled Substance – Marijuana (3rd or Subsequent Offense), an Aggravated Misdemeanor
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Simple Misdemeanor
Court records show Muto has prior convictions in Iowa for Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
