By Jessica A. York
Vallejo Times Herald
VALLEJO, Calif. — A Vallejo man claims he is “the only detective on the case” of his stolen credit card and marijuana-infused brownie, reportedly taken at gunpoint outside a bar early Sunday morning.
The man, who asked that his name not be published, said he and two friends were held up by two armed assailants in a parking lot near the My Office bar on Sacramento Street at about 1:40 a.m.
Vallejo police arriving to retrieve information about the holdup allegedly required proof that the man was legally permitted to possess marijuana. He said he had willingly offered information to a 911 dispatcher that his medical marijuana edible, needed to counteract his insomnia, had been stolen.
“That’s the whole reason why they treated me like a criminal, because of the marijuana,” the man said. “I just felt like when the cops came out, they threatened to arrest everyone around me when we did nothing.”
Vallejo police Lt. Abel Tenorio said he was unfamiliar with the details of the holdup investigation, but said asking for proof of eligibility to carry marijuana is standard procedure.
“Seeing as how it’s not covered in the report, I don’t know the circumstances of that,” Tenorio said. “It looks to me that the officer focused on the robbery.”
The man said he tracked the purchases made on his credit card to businesses around his home. In fact, he said he willingly gave the suspects his card’s PIN code just so he could track them. When he asked bank and gas station officials to share their surveillance footage of the people making the credit car purchases, however, he was told that only police officers were allowed access.
Tenorio said that four of the department’s investigators are investigating two homicides — one reported the day before and the day of the holdup.
The man, who is not allowed to own a gun because of a recent marijuana possession charge, said he fears for his life.
“They only stole about $40 from me, but my point is if these people don’t get off the street, they’re going to end up shooting somebody, if they haven’t already,” the man said.
Copyright 2010 The Times-Herald