Windshield Tint Leads to Discovery of Cocaine and Marijuana in St. Thomas Traffic Stop

ST. THOMAS — A routine traffic stop on Friday afternoon led to felony drug charges for Maulique Caines. Officers of the Special Operations Bureau were conducting traffic exercises around 5:30 p.m. on Alton Adams Drive near the Legislature bus stop when they noticed a grey Toyota 4Runner with a fully tinted windshield driving west. An officer signaled for the vehicle to stop. Upon pulling over, officers reported smelling marijuana, which Caines admitted to having smoked earlier. Although initially hesitant to exit the vehicle, Caines complied after being asked a second time. Officers became suspicious when he attempted to reach back into the vehicle while being patted down. Police subsequently searched the vehicle, finding a transparent plastic bag in the center console containing a "white, rock-like substance." Field tests confirmed the substance as cocaine, totaling approximately 7 grams. The search also uncovered several bags of marijuana candy on the back seat and a black backpack...