Fake gun, fake cash, real Meth end in Melbourne arrest

A 30-year-old man who police said had a fake gun in his lap as he drove slow with the smell of marijuana emanating out of his jeep and a stack of phony money by his side, was jailed.

Christopher James Booth, of Melbourne, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of forged bills, possession of cannabis, driving while license suspended and violation of a stop sign, following an 11:40 p.m. Monday traffic stop near Aurora Road.

“He was found with drugs and $1,100 in counterfeit cash,” said Lt. Cheryl Trainer of the Melbourne Police Department.

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A police officer spotted a red Jeep driven by Booth after he apparently failed to stop for a stop sign. The officer followed the vehicle and turned on his lights as the jeep continued on at a low rate of speed, reports show.

The officer, who also reported smelling marijuana wafting out of the car, pulled the vehicle over and walked up to find Booth sitting inside with what appeared to be a handgun in his lap. “It’s a BB gun, it’s not real,” Booth stated before being ordered out of the car. Officers also found the counterfeit cash along with pain pills and a ziplock with a substance later identified as methamphetamine inside.

He was booked into the Brevard County Jail Complex in Sharpes.

Contact Gallop at 321-242-3642, jdgallop@floridatoday.com and Twitter at @JDGallop