Lang
4/29/23
An Iowa City man faces numerous drug and weapons charges after an early Saturday morning traffic stop.
Iowa City Police conducted the stop on a 2002 Buick Lesabre near the corner of Gilbert and Benton Streets just before 12:15am. Officers say they could smell marijuana coming from the vehicle, and a clear plastic baggie could be clearly seen in the driver’s jacket pocket.
The driver was identified as 31-year-old Ervin Taylor of Clearwater Court. Taylor allegedly told investigators that he had smoked marijuana earlier, and that he smokes it regularly. Police say he voluntarily turned over the plastic baggie, which also contained cocaine.
The marijuana totaled 9.1 grams, while the cocaine totaled 13.3 grams and was packaged into six individual small baggies and two larger bags. An unmarked bottle with two prescription pills was found in the passenger side door, and a loaded Ruger 9mm firearm was found in the center console. Taylor reportedly admitted to buying the firearm last week. It was later determined to have been stolen from an Iowa City resident.
Taylor was arrested and charged with Carrying Weapons, 4th Degree Theft, Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance – 2nd Offense, Permitting the Use of a Controlled Substance in a Vehicle, a Controlled Substance Violation, a Drug Tax Stamp Violation, Dominion or Control of a Firearm as a Felon, and Trafficking in Stolen Weapons. If convicted on all charges, Taylor faces a maximum of 32 years in prison.