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Cops: Man smokes joint at Upper Darby police station

The charges against Carlen Higgs weren't unusual for a weekend arrest: Drugs, public drunkenness, disorderly conduct. But the 33-year-old Upper Darby resident didn't choose the most discreet location for his alleged offenses: He was nabbed after lighting a joint at police headquarters, police say.

The charges against Carlen Higgs weren't unusual for a weekend arrest: Drugs, public drunkenness, disorderly conduct.

But the 33-year-old Upper Darby resident didn't choose the most discreet location for his alleged offenses: He was nabbed after lighting a joint at police headquarters, police say.

Higgs arrived at the police station on West Chester Pike at about 11:30 a.m. Sunday, "ranting and raving" and "demanding to see a police officer," Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said.

Then, inside the building's lobby, a civilian security guard watched Higgs sit on a bench and light a joint, according to Chitwood.

"He starts puffing away," the superintendent said.

An officer tried to speak to Higgs, but he allegedly refused to talk and threw the joint on the floor.

"Walking into police headquarters and lighting up a joint probably wasn't the best decision you made today . . . " the arresting officer wrote on Twitter on Sunday afternoon.

Higgs later allegedly took off his clothes in a holding cell, defecated on the floor, smeared his excrement on the walls and had to be restrained on his way back to police headquarters after a mental-health evaluation, officials said.

Chitwood said Higgs had a "nasty criminal record" and authorities believe he was high, possibly on PCP, when he arrived at the police station on Sunday. Higgs was likely "pretty whacked out" to light up the joint at the police station, Chitwood said.

Court records show he has arrests dating back to 2000 on charges that include terroristic threats, assault and possessing controlled substances.

In the current case, he was charged with disorderly conduct, public drunkenness, marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Higgs was arraigned on Monday and is being held at the Delaware County prison after failing to post 10 percent of $10,000 bail, records show.