SPOKANE, Wash., March 8, 2007
Blues Traveler Singer Singing The Blues
John Popper Arrested After His Vehicle Is Clocked At 111 MPH; Weapons, Marijuana Found In Car
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Photo
In an image released Wednesday, March 7, 2007, by the Washington State Patrol, a cache of weapons is shown in a drawer in the back of a sport-utility vehicle, which were confiscated during the arrest of Blues Traveler singer-harmonica player John Popper near Ritzville, Wash. (AP)
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Popper, 39, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 90 near the Spokane-Lincoln county line, the patrol said Wednesday.
Inside the black Mercedes SUV, officers found a cache of weapons and a small amount of marijuana, the patrol said.
Popper, who lives in Snohomish, is the owner of the vehicle, which was being driven by Brian Gourgeois, 34, of Austin, Texas, said patrol Trooper Jeff Sevigney.
Sevigney confirmed Popper was a member of the popular band and that the pair was traveling from Texas to Washington.
The two men were administratively booked into the Adams County Jail in Ritzville, then released on their own recognizance. That's because Popper lives in the state and the crimes involved are misdemeanors, Sevigney said.
Gourgeois was arrested for investigation of reckless driving and, after troopers reportedly smelled marijuana, Popper was arrested for investigation of drug possession, the patrol said.
Authorities plan to charge them with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Gourgeois will also face a charge of reckless driving, the patrol said.
A police dog searched the vehicle, finding numerous hidden compartments. Inside were four rifles, nine handguns, a switchblade knife, a stun gun and night vision goggles.
Popper told officers he collected weapons, the patrol said.
The vehicle also had flashing emergency headlights, a siren and a public address system.
"Popper indicated to troopers that he had installed these items in his vehicle because (in the event of a natural disaster) he didn't want to be left behind," the patrol said.
Officers also recovered a small amount of marijuana and a marijuana pipe. The vehicle was seized.
Popper did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment Wednesday night.
Popper achieved fame as a harmonica player and frontman for Blues Traveler. The band won a Grammy award in 1996 for the song "Run-around," which Popper composed.
Popper recently formed a group called The John Popper Project with DJ Logic, which released an album in 2006 and is scheduled to go on the road later this month.
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"The constitutions of most of our states [and of the United States] assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property, and freedom of the press."
-- Thomas Jefferson
Bring back the BILL OF RIGHTS!!!
O.K., he was speeding. Fine him. If the pot was found during a legal search, so be it. But he wasn't riding around shooting up anything, Leave the guns alone.
~natural~