Traffic Stop Nets Cache of Synthetic Marijuana, Three Arrested

By M.J. Kneiser-WLHR

Three people are charged in Franklin County with possession of a carload of synthetic marijuana.

According to Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas, the arrests came after deputies stopped a vehicle on I-85 for erratic driving.

“Deputies observed a vehicle traveling southbound on I-85 crossing the center line,” Thomas said. “Deputies conducted a traffic stop near Exit 164. The officer detected an overwhelming fruity smell coming from inside the vehicle. After speaking with the three occupants of the vehicle, deputies asked for permission to search the vehicle. The driver said, ‘No, not without a search warrant.’”

Thomas said deputies called for a K-9 unit and the drug dog alerted the officers to the presence of drugs in the vehicle.

“After the K-9 gave a positive response on the vehicle, the vehicle was searched and 106 packages of synthetic marijuana were found. On each package was either a strawberry or blueberry sticker on it. They also found several bowls with a large amount of a green substance with a total weight of 11.15 ounces,” Thomas said.

The synthetic marijuana Thomas said had a street value of approximately $15,000.

Arrested at the scene were Roger Eugene Cordell of Edinburg, Texas, Dadrick Torres Osborne of Gainesville, GA and Sesame Demon Sorrells also of Gainesville.

All three were charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute.  Cordell was also charged with failure to maintain lane.

All three were released on $10,000 bond. However, a hold was put on Sorrells for HallCounty and after he posted bond in FranklinCounty, he was immediately taken into custody by HallCounty authorities.

Thomas commended his deputies for seizing the large amount of synthetic marijuana.