Attempted Escape with a Blunt Twist Leads to Arrest of Marion County Man on Drug Trafficking and Weapons Charges
(Image is for illustration purposes only.)
In what began as a routine traffic stop for a seatbelt violation on October 24, deputies in Marion County found themselves chasing down a particularly evasive passenger, Zachary Christopher Rothrock, who led officers on a sprint involving tossed blunts, backpack drops, and multiple fence-hopping maneuvers.
Deputy R. Bosnyak initiated the stop after observing a Toyota RAV4 roll through a stop sign near SW 90th Street and SW 27th Avenue. Upon approach, he detected a strong odor of raw marijuana and saw Rothrock attempt to toss a blunt out the passenger window—an immediate red flag. When asked about the airborne blunt, Rothrock nonchalantly admitted he’d chucked it out and even offered to retrieve it.
Moments later, Rothrock ditched this cooperative spirit, leaping out of the vehicle with a red backpack, which he abandoned during his impromptu escape. Determined deputies pursued Rothrock as he fled through yards, scaling fences and, perhaps poetically, finally meeting his match when he smacked into a chain-link fence.
A search of Rothrock’s abandoned backpack turned up a veritable grab bag: two baggies of white powder (which tested positive for fentanyl and cocaine), over 20 grams of marijuana, THC oils, and a fully loaded Springfield 9mm magazine. Rothrock, who lacks a medical marijuana card, also has four prior felony convictions, meaning the ammo alone could have landed him in serious legal trouble.
The blunt, by the way, was dutifully retrieved and confirmed as marijuana—apparently just the tip of this controlled substance iceberg. Rothrock now faces a litany of charges, including trafficking in fentanyl, tampering with evidence, and resisting arrest. He is currently cooling his heels in the Marion County Jail, awaiting his day in court.
