Scavenger hunt turned manhunt? Police say a man hid Easter eggs with weed in city parks
Texas police are searching for a man who they say hid plastic eggs full of marijuana in parks as part of a scavenger hunt, and offered clues to people who bought drugs from him the day of the event.
The man, 23-year-old Avante Nicholson, posted about the eggs on Facebook, almost like he was hosting a 'scavenger hunt,' police said in a news release.
The eggs were allegedly hidden on April 20 in three city parks and a motel in Lufkin, about 133 miles northeast of Houston. He also said those who bought drugs from him that day would get clues on how to find the eggs, police said.
Police have issued four felony warrants for Nicholson's arrest: three for delivery of marijuana in a drug-free zone, and one for the delivery of marijuana.
Man teased scavenger hunt clues
Police said someone called in a tip about Facebook posts Nicholson allegedly made. Officers found eggs in Morris Frank, Winston and Grace Dunn Richardson parks, as well as one behind a Motel 6.
According to police, Nicholson allegedly posted a photo of five plastic eggs inside a vehicle, as well as photos containing hints as to where participants could find the eggs. According to police, they found four eggs and the next day, a man and his granddaughter at Winston Park found a fifth egg and took it to the police station.
Police searched the Facebook page that posted the clues, then confirmed it belonged to Nicholson. They also saw references on his page to selling narcotics, as well as posts that said customers who 'shopped' with him the day of the scavenger hunt would get clues about the eggs.
Police said the eggs contained more than a quarter of an ounce of marijuana.
According to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Texas marijuana laws are as follows:
Sale or delivery of 7 grams of marijuana or less (as a gift) - Misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days imprisonment and fines up to $2,000.
Sale or delivery of 7 grams of marijuana or less - Misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment of up to 1 year and fines up to $4,000.
Sale or delivery of between 7 grams and 5 pounds of marijuana - Felony punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 180 days imprisonment, a maximum of two years imprisonment, and fines up to $10,000.
Sentences go up from there, according to the organization.
'Incidents like this are a reminder of why (we) take seriously all information called into our offices,' Lufkin Police Chief David Thomas said in the news release. 'The safety of our community is at the forefront of everything we do. And in cases such as this, when it endangers children, we are even more vigilant.'
Police ask that anyone with information about Nicholson's whereabouts contact CrimeStoppers at (936) 639-8477, or at www.639tips.com.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
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