A Broward County judge was left befuddled and bemused this week not by the charges filed against a man appearing before him, but the accused's name.
Edward Cocaine appeared in Broward County Court this week on Xanax possession charges. After calling the case, Judge John Hurley paused to take a double take and let out a surprised "what?"
"What's your last name?" he asks the man, with a look of disbelief.
"My last name is Cocaine," the man responds.
A person off camera in the bond court video confirms, saying the term for the illicit drug is in fact on the accused driver's license.
"You know, I thought I'd seen it all," Hurley mused.
The suspect's surname sparked a colorful courtroom back-and-forth between Cocaine and the judge.
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“How many times have the police told you to step out of the car sir in your life?" Hurley asks.
“Just about every time I get pulled over," Cocaine responds.
“Right. As soon as they go, 'What's your name?' 'Cocaine,' 'All right, smart guy, out of the car'” Hurley said with a laugh.
An attorney for the man started to go over his client's credentials for release, but Hurley was still stuck on the name.
"I'm still trying to absorb this," the judge interrupted.
Cocaine told the judge that the family name was changed when his great grandparents came to the United States from Greece in the 1920s.
"Back then they didn't know, you know?" he said.
"Right," the judge quipped. "Or maybe your grandparents knew and just didn't tell anyone else."
Cocaine was reportedly released on his own recognizance.
