Altered plates lead to drug arrest

A Yona traffic stop led to felony drug charges after police say a driver admitted altering his vehicle’s license plates with a black marker. 

According to a magistrate’s complaint filed in superior court, 43-year-old Enrique Pangelinan Delorie is charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance and fraudulent use of a license plate, both third-degree felonies.

Police say officers spotted a 2014 Toyota Corolla with a dark-tinted rear license plate cover around 7:40 a.m. Wednesday. As officers approached, the vehicle reportedly sped away, reaching about 40 miles per hour in a 15-mile-per-hour zone.

The car eventually pulled over, and as delorie exited the vehicle, officers reportedly saw three bags of methamphetamine between him and the car. Inside the vehicle, police also found a pipe with methamphetamine residue.

Investigators later determined the license plates had been altered with black marker. According to the complaint, delorie admitted he drew on the plates and told officers the meth “possibly fell out of his pocket,” adding that he had used methamphetamine the night before.