Deputy Discovers Marijuana Stash during Traffic Stop

HENDERSON — A Rusk County Sheriff’s deputy discovers a load of marijuana during a routine traffic stop this week. Officials say the deputy stopped an SUV on Highway 59 in the southeast region of the county after he noticed the SUV had a defective license plate lamp. Officials say during the traffic stop, he noticed several things indicative of criminal activity. The deputy asked the driver for consent to search the vehicle. Authorities say the driver denied the consent, but the deputy used his certified narcotics dog, Caro, to do a “free air” sniff of the vehicle.

Officials say Caro alerted on the vehicle, so the lawman conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle based on the alert. According to authorities, the deputy discovered two large duffel bags in the rear cargo area of the SUV. Authorities say numerous bricks of marijuana were inside the bags. Authorities report that the lawman seized the marijuana and charged the suspect with possession of marijuana. Officials say the total weight of the marijuana was 204.6 lbs, with an estimated street value of $100,000. The suspect was placed in Rusk County Jail.