LAKELAND, Fla. (November 24, 2012)--A man confessed to trafficking methamphetamine and then flushed the detective's recorder down the toilet, authorities in Florida said.

Polk County deputies say they found Patrick Townsend, 30, with 32.4 grams of meth in his boxers during a traffic stop on Wednesday.

Deputies say Townsend confessed, claiming he usually deals in much larger quantities and a detective recorded the confession, but left the recorder on a desk.

Townsend grabbed it, hid it in his armpit and asked to use the bathroom, where he flushed it, authorities said.

An arrest affidavit says that when the detective looked for the recorder, Townsend mocked him by saying: "Tighten up on your job, homie."

Townsend was jailed without bond Saturday, charged with meth trafficking and destroying evidence.