Man Spends 90 Days in Jail After Police Mistake Drywall Powder for Cocaine

Karlos Cashe, a handyman from Oviedo, Fla., spent 90 days behind bars after police thought his drywall powder was crack cocaine.

Initially, in March, police pulled Cashe over for driving without headlights, but once they inspected his car, they found the powder on the floor and seats of the car. The powder, which was tested by a K-9 unit, came back positive for cocaine, authorities claimed at the time. Cashe, who was on probation for 2015 marijuana and cocaine charges, was arrested not only arrested for the alleged drugs but also for violating his curfew.

In an interview with WFTV, Cashe explained that he tried to tell the officers the powder was drywall.

“I know for a fact that it’s drywall because I’m a handyman,” Cashe told WFTV.

After sitting in jail for 90 days without bond, lab results proved that the powder was not cocaine. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement lab report revealed that no controlled substances were identified, and the charges were dropped. Of course, the police say they have no idea how the test went wrong, but they’re still standing by the arrest, even though they also admit that the curfew violation was incorrect.

“There’s no intent. When something comes back positive, we take it; it’s our probable cause, and that’s why we send to FDLE to confirm,” Lt. Heather Capetillo of the Oviedo Police Department told Fox35 Orlando.

Cashe says that he lost 90 days of his life and that he wants an investigation and to be compensated.

“I want some compensation for them. When I make a mistake, I’ve got to pay for it; that’s why I was on probation. It’s no different for them,” Cashe said.