Speeding Leads to Drug Charges

A Waterford man with a prior drug conviction is facing felony charges after he was pulled over for speeding, and drugs were found in the car.

Thomas Guentzel, 19, was charged Monday in Racine County Circuit Court with a single felony count of possession of THC, second or subsequent offense and one felony count of possession of drug paraphrenalia. If convicted, he faces up to three years, seven months in prison and/or up to $10,500 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, Guentzel and a passenger were pulled over at about 9:30 a.m. Saturday by Racine County Sheriff's deputies near the intersection of Highways 11 and H because radar put them at 45 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone

Guentzel told deputies he was in a hurry to return to the baseball diamonds with the buns he'd just purchased at Walmart. When he started to use lip balm with shaking hands during the conversation, deputies got suspicious, police reports read.

Deputies called for a K9 officer to walk around the outside of the car for an "open air sniff" while Guentzel and his passenger were asked to step out of the vehicle. When asked if there were drugs in the car, police say the defendant admitted there was a pipe and a grinder underneath his seat and that he had a prior conviction for possession of drug paraphrenalia.

When the dog indicated there was a presence of drugs, deputies searched the interior and say they found a black bag with a glass pipe and a grinder with evidence of marijuana residue. There were also a number of cigar wrappers and a quantity of tobacco on the floor of the car.

Deputies took Guentzel into custody and advised him he would be charged with a felony because of his previous possession case. He was also issued a speeding ticket.

His passenger did not have a valid driver's license but was able to arrange a ride from the location of the traffic stop.

Guentzel remains in the Racine County Jail on a $250 cash bond. His next court date is May 22 for a preliminary hearing.