Man Near Wichita State Almost Chokes on Bag of Pot

Friday's Frat Boy News Pause for the Cause

Wichita State University (compiled by The Wichita Eagle)

A routine traffic stop near Wichita State University turned into a rescue mission for a pair of police officers Wednesday night.

The officers pulled over a car at about 8:45 p.m. in the 900 block of North West Street, police spokesman Gordon Bassham said.

As one of the officers approached the car, Bassham said, "he noticed the driver was choking on a large Baggie" of what turned out to be marijuana.

The driver had attempted to swallow it in an effort to prevent its discovery, police said.

The officers performed the Heimlich maneuver on the 20-year-old driver but were unable to dislodge the bag. As the man was losing consciousness, Bassham said, "one of the officers was able to reach into the man's throat and remove the Baggie."

The man was taken to Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Joseph Campus for treatment, and later booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. His 18-year-old passenger was also arrested.