Problem got worse when police found two jeweler bags filled with meth and marijuana seeds.

Staff report

NICEVILLE — A man who stole $20 in lottery winnings from a woman who asked him to cash in her tickets was arrested after cops arrived to investigate the theft and found two bags of methamphetamine he had tried to discard.

On New Year’s Eve, the victim gave the man some lottery tickets “to go and cash in for money and get food.” When he returned, she noticed $20 was missing from the money she was supposed to receive. She confronted the man, tried to get his wallet to see if he was hiding money and contacted police.

The woman said when the man found out law enforcement was en route, he ran outside and threw two jeweler bags with methamphetamine and marijuana seeds inside of them into the bushes. When officers arrived they searched for and located the bags. The man admitted the bags were his.

The 24-year-old Niceville man was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, marijuana possession and drug equipment possession.