University of Iowa police have charged a man with possession after he allegedly swallowed marijuana.

Nathan Huisenga, 18, of Marion was charged Sept. 17 with possession of a controlled substance.

According to a complaint from the UI police, police observed Huisenga driving around the UI President’s Residence parking lot and stopped him after he pulled up to the residence’s garage.

Police said Huisenga’s vehicle smelled of burnt marijuana. When asked if he was smoking marijuana, Huisenga allegedly denied it, saying his friends had smoked in the car earlier.

The complaint said Huisenga consented to a search of his vehicle, which produced no drugs. The responding officer then asked to look in Huisenga’s mouth, according to the complaint. Huisenga’s mouth was allegedly full of ashes.

Huisenga then admitted to eating a "roach," or the butt of a marijuana cigarette and to smoking marijuana in the vehicle.

He then allegedly produced a prescription pill bottle out of his underwear which, he said, contained marijuana.

Possession of marijuana is a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to eight months in jail and a fine of $1,000.

— by Matt Starns