84-year-old Indy man arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute

            by Kevin Owen, THG News

September 12, 2004

An elderly Indianapolis resident was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute Saturday after being pulled over for having a taillight out.

Myron G. King, 84, of Indianapolis was heading northbound on Meridian Street between West Walnut and West St. Clair Streets when city police officer Aaron Bradner noticed only one the taillights on King’s 1977 Monte Carlo was functioning. 

Upon approaching the vehicle, Officer Bradner noticed King conceal something between the driver and passenger seats. When the officer asked the man what he had placed between the seats, King replied, “My medicine.”  King was asked to exit the vehicle, and the officer located a large bag containing eight ounces of marijuana.  King was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

If convicted of a Class D felony, King faces six months to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.  He has no previous arrests.

King’s family was outraged by the charges made against him; they argue that King only uses marijuana to alleviate the pain in his arthritic knees and would never distribute the drug.  “The only reason Grandpa Spliffy (King) had so much weed on him is he doesn’t get out that often so he buys a lot at one time for his personal use.  He isn’t going around selling it to anybody.  He won’t even let us ride with him if he has any on him,” said grandson Trevor Jackson. 

When asked why King does not use a legal prescription painkiller, his daughter, Donna King said, “Dad is on a fixed income and can’t afford the prescriptions he has now.  It is a lot cheaper to go downtown and get some Maui wowie.”

King is expected to be arraigned Monday.

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