THOMASVILLE — A man denied he had marijuana in his possession, but the color of his tongue caused a police officer to question the situation.

According to reports, during predawn hours Saturday at West Jackson and Patten streets, a Thomasville Police Department officer’s license plate recognition equipment emitted an alert about a passing Volkswagen Jetta’s expired registration. The vehicle stopped, and the officer informed the driver, Willie Battle, about the expired registration. Battle told the officer the vehicle belonged to his girlfriend.

As the officer talked to Battle, he detected the odor of marijuana coming from the Jetta.

Battle exited the vehicle and denied having marijuana in the Jetta or on his person, a TPD incident report stated.

Marijuana was not found on Battle’, but the officer noticed a green texture on the suspect’s tongue as he spoke.

The incident report stated: “I asked Battle to stick out his tongue at which time I observed pieces of green leafy substance in his mouth. … Battle consumed most of the marijuana which was located in the vehicle.”

Marijuana was not found on the two passengers in the car.

A search of the car produced a small amount of marijuana in the center console. 

“Battle said the contraband was his,” the report stated.

“He had smoked some earlier, and he chewed up the rest of it,” said Maj. Wade Glover, TPD public information officer.

Thomas County Emergency Medical Service responded and checked Battle because of the marijuana ingestion.

Battle is charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820