A Sparta man is charged with drug trafficking following a safety check that revealed an unsafe situation inside his vehicle.
Terrance Andre Strickland, 46, was arrested March 13 and charged with crossing guard lines with weapons, intoxicant; drugs without consent; misdemeanor obstruction of law enforcement officers; marijuana possession less than an ounce; and trafficking in cocaine, illegal drugs, marijuana or methamphetamine.
According to a report of the arrest by Jones County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Travis Walker, he made contact with Strickland March 13 during a safety check on Highway 49.
The officer said while speaking with the driver, he noticed a box of bullets by the gear shift and asked if he had a gun.
Strickland said no, but his behavior raised questions that something was going on. Walker said the driver kept looking straight ahead and had only lowered his window halfway when speaking with him.
The lieutenant said when he asked the driver for his identification, he held up a debit card. Walker said Strickland at first refused when he was asked to exit the truck. When he conducted a search for weapons, the officer said Strickland put his hands down appearing to be reaching for something.
Walker said he immediately took the subject to the ground and attempted to secure his hands. Strickland resisted but was secured with the help of other deputies. A bag of methamphetamine was located inside of Strickland’s hoodie jacket pocket.
The driver was placed in the back seat of another patrol car and transported to the Jones County Law Enforcement Center.
The backseat of an officer’s patrol car is routinely checked for contraband after a transport. Walker said a check of the backseat where Strickland was seated in the deputy’s vehicle revealed more meth. Some of it was in a plastic bag and more was found in the crack of the seat. He said a video of the trip to the LEC showed Strickland reaching into his pants and appearing to stuff something behind his back.
