Traffic stop yields drugs, firearms
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on January 23, 2018 2:45 PM
Submitted photo
Best
Submitted photo
Lewis
Authorities say the smell of marijuana gave away illicit substances inside a car they stopped on North William Street Friday.
Two men were arrested and charged after officers searched the car they were in based on an "overwhelming odor of marijuana" emitting from the vehicle, a press release said.
Rodney Latrell Lewis, 28, of 718 N. Jackson St., is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and was cited for carrying a concealed gun and a vehicle regulatory violation.
Unique Dor-Varis Best, 19, of 103 Bodine Drive, Pikeville, is charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, carrying a concealed gun and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office Regional Enforcement and Crime Targeting Team pulled the car the men were inside of over on North William Street Saturday, according to the press release.
Members of the team reportedly immediately smelled the distinct odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.
Officers decided to search the car based on the reported smell of drugs and took the men out of the car.
They conducted a "terry frisk" on the men as they were taken out of the car and officers reportedly discovered items that led them to believe guns were in the car.
A "terry frisk" was defined by a 1968 U.S. Supreme Court case that decided a citizen's fourth amendment right is not violated when a police officer frisks a subject on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity but without probable cause to arrest the person.
Deputies then searched the car and found a "large quantity of marijuana, two concealed firearms and drug related paraphernalia" inside, the release said.
Both men were put in the Wayne County Detention Center.
Best received a $3,000 secured bond, while Lewis got a $10,000 secured bond.