Rethinking Farting as Battery

Last week we made national news as a local man was charged with battery of a police officer after allegedly farting on him. The charges got dropped and probably couldn't have stuck, anyway, but another local story makes me think maybe passing gas at the local constabulary might imperil broader law enforcement goals.

It's about a local priest and a parishioner who were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. How did they get caught?

In the complaint against the priest, the officer wrote:

'While traveling southbound on Central Overpass this officer could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle that was in front of my vehicle. This officer stopped the vehicle - a silver Chrysler Town & Country - at Kanawha Turnpike and Elm Street . . ..'

Wow, that's some nose! Either he's got a really superior olfactory sense or . . . well, he's manufacturing probable cause ex post facto. You can see how odoriferous emissions directed at such a highly trained honker might endanger us all!