LAWRENCE — When Officer Tim Dube pulled his cruiser alongside an illegally parked car on Ames Street at midnight Wednesday, he noticed a telltale odor — marijuana, he said.
The five men in the Honda Civic began to squirm, and Dube ordered them to put their hands where he could see them, he said.
Then, he asked for the marijuana, and promised not arrest them if it was a small amount. He'd summons them to court instead, he told them.
The men denied having marijuana in the car, but Dube knew he'd smelled it. So he gave them a second chance to come clean and avoid being arrested.
They said they understood, but kept their ground, so Dube called for backup.
Officers frisked the men and searched the car, where they found three marijuana cigarettes and a package of rolling papers, police said.
Arrested and charged with possession of marijuana were: Edgar Vargas, 19, 1075 Essex St.; Leandro Huacon, 19, 22 Byron Ave.; Alberto Barriera, 18, 35 Olive Ave., Nelson Hernandez, 19, 590 Lowell St.; and Jose Lebron, 19, 37 Chelmsford St.
