Two Busted for Cocaine during Traffic Stop

NACOGDOCHES — Two Baltimore, Maryland, residents were arrested after a Nacogdoches County traffic stop on Thursday afternoon after a drug dog reportedly found a significant amount of cocaine in the vehicle. That’s according to the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel and KETK. Melvin James Perry, 27, and Ashley Nicole Perc, 23, were both charged with first-degree felony possession of a controlled substance following the initial traffic stop at about 4:45 p.m. Thursday for passing a school bus while it was unloading children, according to a DPS spokeswoman. After speaking with the two, the trooper said criminal indicators of drug trafficking were observed and the consent to search the vehicle was denied.

Authorities say Perry then tried to run and was caught by the trooper. A DPS drug dog assisted and alerted on the trunk area where 9.5 kilos, or 9,500 grams, of cocaine were reportedly found. Perry also has a misdemeanor evading arrest charge from the incident. Perc remained in the Nacogdoches County Jail in lieu of a $75,000 bond. Perry’s bond was set at a combined $77,500.