Former Florida Lawyer Charged After Cops Found Cocaine In His Pocket During Traffic Stop

A Florida lawyer, who had his license revoked after his pants caught fire during an arson trial in 2017, is now facing a cocaine possession charge after authorities found the addictive stimulant drug in his pocket during a traffic stop.

Officials found cocaine in Stephen Gutierrez's possession when they pulled him over for a broken headlight Monday. An officer noticed a bulge in his pocket, which he first thought was a knife, the Associated Press reported, citing a report from Miami Dade Police Department.

Officers insisted Gutierrez take out what's inside and it turned out to be a cylindrical container with a bag of white powdery substance inside. "That's cocaine," he exclaimed as the officer examined the substance, according to the arrest report.

Gutierrez was taken to jail but he posted bail the following morning. It wasn't immediately known if he was assigned an attorney.

Gutierrez's legal career hit a snag when his license was suspended last February in connection with an incident that happened during the arson trial. He was defending a client who had set his car on fire in order to claim the insurance money when his own pants caught fire.

Police seized several frayed e-cigarette batteries from his pocket during a subsequent investigation. Gutierrez claimed the fire started due to a faulty battery inside the pocket. It wasn't proven in court that he acted with criminal intent. But his license was revoked in October.

Gutierrez's client was later charged with second-degree arson.

In October 2019, an Oklahoma man, who pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, had his case dismissed when the substance turned out to be powdered milk. He withdrew his plea after a lab test determined the substance wasn't cocaine and was released from jail after spending two months there.