Two facing trafficking charges after routine stop on I-10

By Donna Riley-Lein
Independent Staff Writer
Posted 1/14/09

LOXLEY, Ala. — A weaving late-model Dodge Charger on Interstate 10 caught the attention of a Loxley police officer Saturday afternoon. The result was the arrest of two Florida men now held on $1 million bail and the seizure of 10 pounds of …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Local reporters keeping you informed across the Alabama Gulf Coast.

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

Two facing trafficking charges after routine stop on I-10

Posted

LOXLEY, Ala. — A weaving late-model Dodge Charger on Interstate 10 caught the attention of a Loxley police officer Saturday afternoon. The result was the arrest of two Florida men now held on $1 million bail and the seizure of 10 pounds of marijuana.

“The officer was on I-10 for another reason,” Loxley police Lt. Raymond Lovell. “The officer observed the car run off the road, leaving the marked travel lanes.” He added that the officer turned around and pursued the Charger.

Lovell added that the car apparently left its lane in front of the officer, whom he declined to identify.

The car was heading eastbound, toward Florida.

“The officer then put on the blue lights and stopped the vehicle,” said Lovell.

In the car was Westley Alexander Jones, of of Merritt Island, Fla., and Jeremiah Odom, 22, of Cocoa Beach Fla.

According to Lovell, it appeared that the two men had been smoking marijuana in the car. The two initially denied officers permission to search the vehicle.

That changed when a drug dog was brought to the scene. Lovell stressed that the dog was not used.

“They consented to the search,” said Lovell.

When officers opened the trunk of the Charger, they found about 10 pounds of marijuana in 10 separate bags.

“It appears that the two went to Texas and purchased 10 pounds of marijuana,” said Lovell.

Any amount of drugs over 2.2 pounds draws a trafficking charge, and in Baldwin County, that means $1 million in bail. If convicted, the two face up to 99 years in prison according to Alabama law.