Drug Defendant Tried to Leave Evidence in Squad Car, Say Police

Austin Lincoln, 18, of Muskego has been charged in Milwaukee County Circuit Court with possession of narcotic drugs. Charges came after he and Joseph Moeller, 26, of Wind Lake, who has also been charged with the same offense, were caught possessing heroin in Moeller's truck, according to police.

According to the criminal complaint:

At 9:47 p.m. on Feb. 19, Milwaukee Police officers noted Lincoln and Moeller parked behind a building near 94th and Silver Spring, "ducked down low in their seats." Reports state the pair also were observed leaning forward toward the floor of the truck before exiting and walking quickly toward an apartment building.

The officers caught up with the men, and one observed a hypodermic needle on the front passenger seat as well as another on the driver's side floorboard. A third needle was found on the passenger side floorboard as well as a small metal cup with black residue, which later tested positive for heroin, as well as white powder wrapped in an envelope, also found to be heroin.

Both were taken in separate police squads to be booked reports stated, and as Lincoln was taken out of the car he was in, officers noted a strong odor of marijuana in the vehicle, and found "some green leafy plant-like material on the rear floorboards, immediately in front" of where Lincoln had been sitting.

Both Lincoln and Moeller face a maximum penalty of up to $10,000 in fines and three and a half years in prison. Lincoln's preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 4.