First person in Northeast Ohio arrested under 'hidden compartment' law

RTrain

Bluelighter
Joined
Mar 4, 2012
Messages
1,935
Location
NE USA
For the first time in Northeast Ohio, state troopers made an arrest under the state's new "hidden compartment" law.

The bust happened yesterday on the turnpike in Lorain County.

They pulled over the driver for speeding, but then troopers noticed several wires running to the back of the car.

Those wires then led them directly to a hidden compartment.

Around 5 p.m. on Tuesday state troopers made the arrest under the law, which is meant to combat criminals who modify the inside of their car, allowing them to store drugs or weapons inside secret compartments, which can often only be accessed electronically.

"During the search, they noticed some components inside the vehicle that did not appear to be factory," says Lt. Michael Combs with State Highway Patrol.

Channel 3 was not able to shoot video of that car right now because it is being held as evidence, but we can tell you it's "hide" was accessed electronically, meaning you needed to perform a series of events in the correct order, and the the false floor seats or taillights would then pop out, revealing the secret compartment.

The giveaway this time?

"We figured it out and followed the wiring and we were able to get it open," says Combs.

Troopers arrested 30-year-old Norman Gurley, who didn't even have any drugs on him, but it didn't matter, because in Ohio, just driving a "trap" car is now a felony.

"Without the hidden compartment law, we would not have had any charges on the suspect," says Combs.

But because of this law, one more "trap car" is now off Northeast Ohio roads.

"We apparently caught them between runs, so to speak, so this takes away one tool they have in their illegal trade. The law does help us and is on our side," says Combs.

Gurley, who is from Michigan, was arraigned this morning and has since posted bond.

Combs says the "hide" in Gurley's car was big enough to carry several pounds of drugs.

And the War on Drugs hit a new low point of excess and invasion of privacy. Amazing, you can now be charged with a drug related crime without having any drugs or paraphernalia on you whatsoever.

This is a screwed up law they put in place over there in Ohio. Hopefully the guy gets off with little to no punishment. Granted you can't feel too bad for the guy because he had exposed wires running through his car within apparently easy view. You know the retard persecutor is going to try to equate this to having an illegal firearm.

Might as well just make it a crime to have hidden pockets in you jacket or pants. 8(
 
Last edited:
But I had to install that trap to put my valuables in because my car kept getting broken in to and because police here suck. That's my excuse
 
Awesome, kind of like living in a big prison.

"Channel 3 was not able to shoot video of that car right now because it is being held as evidence"

Yeah, and it will probably cost the owner $75-$100 a day until trail(6mo-12mo)= lost car police get to auction.
 
That's such a valid point, Black Rabbit. & if that DID happen, you know damn well the police aren't going to believe you, then you're just gonna get busted up and bloodied. Leave it to my lovely state for this dumb ass law. Now when you trade a car in, is the dealership going to comb over every wire and every inch of the car to make sure there's no hidden compartment? Cause if not, and like you said, someone bought it and got caught with it, they're fucked.

...But I don't feel bad for the dude in this article. Man, if you're going to run drugs and shit & have hidden compartments, HIDE THE FUCKING WIRES. Or put some subs in the trunk to make it look like that's where they run to, and you're just lazy on hiding the wiring like most people do.


<3 Ohio.
 
Really its his fault for trying to hide from bulshit laws.. how do you even know it was for drugs.. man you could be a prosecutor.. I guess if I leave my wallet in plain sight and it gets ripped off by a thief its my fault too?
 
They will keep it up as long as we let them. We are in the right, as well as smarter, and there are a hell of a lot more of us.;)

Agree, if every person that got a ticket or charge fought it the system would start to collapse with in a week. Along with friends and community members gathered outside the court houses with signs, banners, video cameras and drums. We need to bring the corruption into the light and let them know the people have had enough..

The whole law enforcement system works on "ok I will plea guilty" Next.. Not everyone can do this but resistance is what we need IMO.
 
So if your car has a hidden compartment is it no longer legal? Like are you supposed to turn it in? How the fuck did grown adults pass this law?
 
It got passed in Ohio because of all of the drugs being smuggled in across the border. This is their attempt at combating the scourge of society. If the people in Arizona keep getting kidnapped or killed at the present rate, Ohio will probably pass a no duct tape law or something equally ingenuous. Fuck, better hope NASCAR never goes there if that happens.
 
Wait... WTF!?

I actually made hidden compartments in my cars that I use to store wheel lock keys, radio and GPS unlock codes, extra sets of keys, copies of the title and registration, etc

I don't drive with drugs, period.

Remind me not to drive through ohio :!
 
Whooaaa, hold on a second. Are you telling me its possible to have a secret compartment for hiding something in your car aside form drugs? Better not bring any of that crazy, liberal thinking into Ohio. Do you honestly think you have any right to protect your possessions? You know this is America, Land of the Free, right?
 
Top