Florida official arrested with meth pipe stashed in his rectum

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 9 (UPI) -- The former purchasing director of a Florida city panicked while he was being pulled over in downtown Fort Lauderdale in December and stashed a glass methamphetamine pipe in the only place he could think of -- his rectum.

Carlos López, who was working for the city of Hialeah at the time, was arrested Dec. 29 on drug charges and taken to a hospital to have the pipe removed.

“López appeared visually shaken and sweating. López’s face was flushed from an apparent rise in body temperature and pupils were dilated,” according to the arrest report. “As López searched for his license I observed involuntary muscle spasms in López’s face as well as slurred repetitive speech. These symptoms are consistent with being under the influence of methamphetamine.”

In the report, an officer identified as R. Goderstad noted that after a metal container with methamphetamine was found, he observed that López had his pants unbuttoned.

A canine officer who was on the scene “began speaking with López at which time López admitted to have a methamphetamine glass pipe inside his anal cavity. López then stated he placed it in his rectum as he was being pulled over so I wouldn’t find it if I searched his vehicle.”

Weeks after the arrest, the 45-year-old was transferred to a leadership post in Public Works.

[Miami Herald] [CBS Miami]