CAPE MAN ACQUITTED OF DRUG CHARGES

A 22-year-old Cape Girardeau man was acquitted of cocaine possession charges Tuesday at the conclusion of a one-day jury trial.

Samuel Cornelius Taylor was found not guilty after a jury deliberated for about 90 minutes.

Taylor's acquittal was an exception to most verdicts in Cape Girardeau County drug trials, said Ian Sutherland, assistant county prosecutor.

Following the trial, some members of the jury spoke with Sutherland and Cape Girardeau police officer Dan Seger.

Jurors said the evidence presented in court was insufficient to make them think crack cocaine found beneath Taylor's car belonged to him, the attorney said.

On May 30, Seger was in his patrol car eastbound on Morgan Oak behind several other cars that were stopped at Sprigg Street waiting on a red light. A car driven by Taylor pulled out of line and drove through several parking lots, and then across Sprigg Street before coming to a stop in front of Don's Store 24.

Seger followed Taylor's car, because avoiding the red light by driving through the parking lots was a traffic violation.

The police officer approached Taylor, who was alone in his car. As he was questioning Taylor, Seger noticed two pieces of crack cocaine just behind the left front tire near the driver's door. When Taylor became agitated after further questioning, Seger asked him to step out of his car.

Seger and Taylor engaged in a short scuffle, after which Taylor was arrested.

During the trial, two witnesses for Taylor said Seger had a habit of following Taylor.