Cocaine possession charge dismissed

By Stephanie Ockerman - Managing Editor

May 16, 2008 12:04 pm

— A cocaine possession charge against a Morehead man was dropped after the substance did not test positive for a controlled substance.
A charge of first-degree possession of controlled substance/cocaine was dismissed against Michael L. Stevens, 32, on a motion by the Rowan County attorney in district court May 7.
Lab results showed no controlled substance identified, according to court records.
Stevens said the substance was baking powder.
Stevens was taken into custody in January after Morehead Police received a complaint of a suspicious Monte Carlo parked at the Kroger fuel center about 3:49 p.m.
Police said they noticed a baggie of white powder lying in the back seat of the unlocked car. Officers checked the substance with a test kit they carry with them and the powder came back positive for cocaine, according to a police report.
Moments later Stevens, who was driving the car, returned and admitted to being the owner of the vehicle. Stevens then was arrested and lodged in the Rowan County Detention Center. He was released after posting a $5,000 cash bond.
Stevens said this week that his passenger told police the bag was his. Stevens also asked the arresting officer to test the substance in front of him, he said, which the officer declined.
Though Stevens’ mother had to pick up his son at school twice after his arrest because other kids were harassing the boy, Stevens said he harbors no hard feelings toward law enforcement.
“I’m not mad at anyone,” Stevens said. “I don’t want any personal vendettas with any public agency or anyone,” he said.