Misspelled 'battery' tips cops to drugs

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A misspelling tipped off police to what they said looked like a normal Duracell brand battery but actually turned out to be a container for drugs.

In response to numerous citizen complaints about drug activity in the area, Austin Police Department units patrolled closely the Pepper Lane area in Southeast Austin Aug. 3.

A traffic stop at 11:07 p.m. that Tuesday led to the unique drug discovery after police said a vehicle ran a stop sign in the 5100 block of Pepper Lane .

Officers said they smelled marijuana and searched passenger Danny Rodela, 19. That's when authorities said they found in his pocket what looked like a Duracell battery but was instead a container for drugs.

Police said they were tipped off because the name on the battery was misspelled. After unscrewing the container's bottom, about 0.6 grams of Xanax was found tucked inside.

Rodela is charged with possession of a controlled substance, a Class A misdemeanor.