VAN BUREN, Ark. — On Feb. 23, Arkansas State Police (ASP) announced the seizure of at least 675 pounds of illegal weed, along with other drugs, paraphernalia, and guns.
The haul came from five different traffic stops in Crawford County, all taking place within a 10-day time span.
The first of the five stops involved ASP pulling over a car hauler. On Feb. 14, around 2 p.m., police pulled over a tractor-trailer carrying three vehicles at the 1-mile marker Eastbound on I-40 in Crawford County.
A search of the trailer yielded 18 bags of marijuana hidden in the vehicles being hauled with a total weight of 412 pounds.
Two minor children were also in the tractor-trailer.
The tractor-trailer's driver, Jezreel Otey, 29, of Little Rock, was transported to the Crawford County jail. Robert Sanders, 33, and Ciara Hewlett, 27, both of North Little Rock, were also transported to the Crawford County jail. All three are facing drug related charges.
Police say that there were also two children in the tractor-trailer, and they were released into the custody of the Department of Human Services.
The tractor-trailer and the three vehicles being hauled have all been seized.
The second stop took place on Feb. 20 at around noon. ASP pulled over a black GMC pickup truck on I-40 Eastbound in Van Buren for a traffic violation.
The driver, 51-year-old Thomas Elliot of Deerfield Beach, Florida, told police that he was traveling from Oregon to Florida.
Troopers found nine duffle bags containing 211 pounds of marijuana in 190 vacuum-sealed bags after searching his vehicle. Additionally, the search yielded a loaded 357 Magnum revolver and $3,978.
Elliot was transported to the Crawford County jail and faces drug related charges.
The third stop also took place on Feb. 20, just miles down the road from the second one. ASP stopped a white Chevrolet Suburban traveling Eastbound on I-40. Three large boxes containing 50 pounds of marijuana were found in the vehicle, as well as a 9mm Glock handgun.
Wynton Foy, 33, of Snellville, Georgia, and De’Ja Johnson, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia, were transported to the Crawford County jail and face drug related charges.
The fourth stop took place on Feb. 22, on I-40. Janet Arreola, 29, and Jose Escobedo, 35, both of Cumming, Georgia, were traveling eastbound when they were pulled over by ASP due to a traffic violation. Troopers found 2,628 pounds of marijuana vapes and 21 pounds of marijuana.
Both were transported to the Crawford County jail and face drug related charges.
The fifth stop also occurred on Feb. 22 when ASP stopped a gold Chevrolet Malibu traveling eastbound on I-40 in Crawford County.
A search yielded four pounds of marijuana and 10 pounds of marijuana products. Chip Ervin, 45, of Mississippi, was arrested and transported to the Crawford County jail, where he now faces drug related charges.
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