Three pounds of pot found: Dayton police officers find cache of illegal goods during traffic stop
Marijuana, guns and other items, pictured above, were found during a traffic stop on Rhea County Highway by the Dayton Police Department.
Published: 3:56 PM, 06/23/2009
Last updated: 9:58 AM, 07/08/2010
Author: Michael Reneau Source: The Herald-News
One of Dayton's drug dogs and his handler
uncovered a cache of illegal substances last weekend on what started as a routine traffic stop,
officials said.
Dayton Patrolman Jason Woody, his K-9, Marshall, and other Dayton officers
reportedly found nearly three pounds of marijuana, two loaded pistols, almost 40 prescription pills,
a knife and more than $800 in cash on Saturday.
Mcarthur "Artie" Mahan II, 36, of Pikeville,
was booked on several drug and weapons-related charges. He was released Saturday on an unspecified
bond.
Woody reported that he spotted Mahan driving erratically in a 2002 silver Chevrolet
Tahoe on Rhea County Highway, near Blueberry Hill, early Saturday morning.
The officer
reported Mahan acted nervous after he was stopped.
Mahan allegedly admitted to having a
knife on him.
Woody and other officers reported finding the knife and a bag of what is
believed to be marijuana. They also found a bag of prescription pills, Woody reported.
The
K-9 officer then sniffed around the vehicle and altered officers to search further. Officers
reportedly found several more bags of the leafy, green substance, the two loaded pistols, more bags
of pills, $837 in cash and digital scales in a back seat storage area, officials said.
Woody
and the other officers arrested Mahan and booked him at the Rhea County Jail. Jailers allegedly
found about $200 more that Mahan was hiding, Woody said.
Woody said in all, officers found
2.71 pounds of what they believe to be marijuana and 38 prescription pills.
Woody said if
the substance is confirmed as marijuana, it will be the most pot he has ever found on a traffic
stop.
THE HERALD-NEWS
Serving Dayton, Tenn., and the Rhea County Community Since 1898
3687 Rhea County Highway, P.O. Box 286, Dayton, Tennessee 37321 (423) 775-6111