yeah, he could have said no to the cop, but the only thing you people aren't realizing is that when he says NO to the cop, that is enough for the cop to immediately get a search warrant...then he has to let the cop search him...so yes, saying NO basically is probable cause under suspicion...

if you can't get the money to get a lawyer, go to your local public defender's office...you have the right to an attorney, if you can't afford one, then one will be appointed to you...you'll have to pay a small application fee (depending on where you live)...those public defenders are good, trust me, i just had one get me out of an underage poss. of liquor charge (i am underage, 20, by the way) on a plea bargain...it's worth the time to do that....if nothing else they might work out a plea bargain with your arresting officer and he may lower or drop some charges...especially since it sounds like you cooperated very well with him...have you ever heard of PTI? Pre-Trial Intervention? You can go apply for that at your local solicitor's office...what that does is puts you through some Narcotics Anonymous, community service, all that...but the big thing is that it keeps the charge off your record, you never actually go to court...it's a one shot deal though, just don't screw up after you go through it once...

I've had simple possession before, it's not pretty, but I went through PTI and straightened it right out...then my dumb ass turned around and got underage poss. of liquor at winthrop college, then got busted with weed there (didn't go to jail though, campus security was nice)...then I just now, two years later, got a DUI, open container with the underage possession dropped...so yeah, you might think I'd know a thing or two about the law as far as drug and alcohol charges...try for the PTI, if not, just suffer the consequence dude....we all do at some point...