When stopped by police, 21-year-old Karin Garcia Betancourt told officers her internal voice told her not to smoke marijuana today, but she says she did it anyway because it helps with her anxiety and to be more outgoing in her job as a waitress at a local Mexican restaurant. She was initially pulled over Thursday afternoon for going 79 in a 55 mph zone, but officers quickly determined she was under the influence of marijuana while driving. She gave officers the remaining roaches and blunts she had in the vehicle and was charged with DUI, drug possession, and driving without a license. The MNPD Officer noted she was “cooperative and friendly during the interaction” and she thoroughly explained how she was in the “process of cutting back from daily marijuana usage to weekly usage, with the eventual goal of no marijuana usage”. She is free on pre-trial release.
| COMPLAINT: |
| 2021-0594227 |
| ARREST WARRANT / AFFIDAVIT: |
| On 11/18/2021 at approximately 1435 hours, the defendant Karina Garcia-Betancourt was operating her motor vehicle on I-440W near West End Ave Exit 1. She was stopped for speeding. She was going 79 in a 55-mph zone. When Ofc Groeneweg approached the vehicle, the vehicle had a strong odor of marijuana emitting from it. It was clear that the marijuana odor was present. When Ofc Groeneweg asked about the marijuana smell, Ms. Garcia admitted to smoking marijuana around 10 am this morning. She admitted to smoking marijuana about 4 hours prior to the traffic stop. She was heading to work as a waitress at a Mexican Restaurant in Nashville TN. When Ofc Groeneweg asked if there were any drugs, weapons or illegal contraband in the vehicle, Ms. Garcia gave Ofc Groeneweg the remaining marijuana and some roaches (smoked blunts/joints) that she had in her possession. She consented to performing SFST and additional tests asked. She showed signs of impairment on walk and turn and one leg stand. She performed LOC and Modified Romberg as well. Based on the admitted statements of consumption, her SFSTs performance, the strong odor of marijuana, and her observed speeding violation, she was taken into custody for DUI 1st offense. She was read implied consent and consented to a blood test. She was mirandized and consented to speak with officers. She made statements about her internal voice telling her not to smoke any marijuana but did anyway. She stated she was cutting back from daily usage to weekly with the end goal of no marijuana usage. She stated she smokes cannabis for anxiety and being more outgoing for her job as a waitress. The test was conducted, and she was transported to DCSO Booking for processing. She was cooperative and friendly during the interaction. When asked about her driver’s license, she stated that she was waiting until she was 21 years old to get her TN DL. |
| PROSECUTOR: |
| AREND GROENEWEG |
| SIGNED BY COMMISSIONER / JUDGE: |
| CAROLYN PIPHUS |
| VICTIM: |
| SOCIETY |
| CASE | CHARGE | BOND |
|---|---|---|
| GS956524 | SIMPLE POSSESSION | 250 |
| GS956523 | NO DRIVER’S LICENSE | 250 |
| GS956525 | DUI | 1000 |
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| DEFENDANT: | GARCIA BETANCOURT, KARINA |
| AKA(s): | KARINA BETANCOURT KARINA GARCIA BETANCOURT |
| ADDRESS: | |
| JMS ID: | 966808 |
| CONTROL ID: | 605149 |
| SEX: | F |
| RACE: | WHITE |
| DOB: | 11/03/2000 (21) |
| ADMITTED: | 11/18/2021 05:57 PM |
| RELEASED: | 11/18/2021 10:07 PM |
| BOND VIA: | PRETRIAL |
UP IN SMOKE….
Surprised it could hear its “Inner voice” through the adipose tissue. God bless it in any case…