VICKSBURG, Miss. — What began as a routine traffic stop for illegal window tinting on Indiana Avenue quickly escalated into a significant drug bust, resulting in the seizure of nearly 70 pounds of marijuana, two firearms, and two arrests, according to the Vicksburg Police Department.
Around 9:45 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, Lt. Donnie Heggins of the Narcotics Division stopped a vehicle on Indiana Avenue for illegal tint. The vehicle’s owner, who was not driving at the time, hinted at possible drug activity inside the car.
Lt. Heggins called Investigator Blake Scallions, who brought K9 Nadia to inspect the vehicle. The dog detected the scent of illegal narcotics, providing probable cause for a search.
The search uncovered close to 70 pounds of marijuana, valued at approximately $100,000, along with two weapons. Both the driver and passenger were taken into custody.
The suspects, identified as 22-year-old Tayvion Pope and 24-year-old Robert Lamont Ward, both from Vicksburg, were charged with trafficking a controlled substance.
Pope was already out on bond related to a previous felony marijuana possession charge linked to a March 11 armed robbery that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Quincy Peoples and injuries to two others.
At their initial court hearing before Judge Penny Lawson, Pope was assigned a $300,000 bond, while Ward received a $200,000 bond for the trafficking charges.
Vicksburg Police Chief Penny Jones praised the efforts of the officers and K9 unit for their diligence in removing illegal drugs from the streets.
