Police find gun, drugs, and cash after stopping man parked in handicap space without permit

Myrtle Beach police said they found a gun, drugs, and thousands of dollars after stopping a man parked in a handicap space at a gas station who did not have a handicap permit.

Officers were on patrol about 11 p.m. Wednesday at a gas station at 1845 Mr. Joe White Avenue when authorities saw Garry Jamal Vereen, 27, pull into a handicap space and noticed he did not appear to have a handicap permit, police said.

Authorities said Vereen got out and left the car running with the windows down. When Vereen came back outside from the store, police initiated a stop and asked for his driver’s license.

Officers said they could smell marijuana emitting from the car and from Vereen. Police said they also saw a handgun in plain view inside Vereen’s car.

Authorities said Vereen told them he did not have a permit to carry the gun and admitted to smoking marijuana in his car.

Police said they found a bag, containing 3.5 grams of marijuana, on Vereen during a routine search.

Officers also said they found more than $2,600 in cash on Vereen, who offered several different explanations about where he got the money, according to the report.

Vereen was taken to the Myrtle Beach Jail and charged with simple possession of marijuana and parking in a handicap space.

This story was originally published May 14, 2015 at 9:51 AM with the headline "Police find gun, drugs, and cash after stopping man parked in handicap space without permit."