According to LaFayette Police Department reports:
Darius Maguel Walton of Frank Fabris Lane in Rossville was arrested on Aug. 14 at 11:45 p.m. along U.S. 27 near Pickard Drive.
Officer Zachary Simpson was notified that a white 1994 Honda Accord would be traveling to LaFayette, with marijuana in the vehicle.
“The vehicle stop was based on information received from a confidential informant,” Capt. Stacey Meeks said. “The marijuana seized was very high grade and hydroponically grown and it is very expensive on the street.”
The marijuana had a potential street value of $20 per gram, according to Lookout Mountain Drug Task Force commander Pat Doyle.
“They seized nearly two ounces, so that is in excess of a thousand dollars of marijuana,” Meeks said.
Simpson, when he stopped the vehicle, could smell a “strong odor of what I believe to be raw marijuana.”
Without any instruction, Walton and another man in the vehicle put their hands on the dashboard, as Simpson leaned in to ask for a driver’s license.
“(Walton’s) hands were shaking and he appeared to be very nervous,” Simpson wrote, as he began asking questions about the odor.
The driver consented to a search of the vehicle, after stating ‘there is nothing inside.”
Simpson found a jar underneath the driver’s seat, which contained a green leafy substance. He was assisted by probation officer Daniel Williams, Sgt. Jennifer Shackleford and Lt. Dunn.
The driver denied being the owner of the pot. The two men were questioned
Williams found a Nike bag, which contained two more jars with marijuana along with a digital scale, which had residue from marijuana.
The driver was handcuffed and a large amount of money was found in his wallet, which was also taken into evidence.
The substance in the three jars tested positive for marijuana and weighed a total of 42.9 grams and was packaged for resale. Meeks believes the jars were used to conceal the odor.
Walton was released from jail and returned to the LaFayette Police Department offices the following day, attempting to collect the seized items.
He wanted the money, bag and scale, but continued to claim that the marijuana wasn’t his.
“When he was informed that all of it was evidence and that we were seizing the money he became irate and had to be physically escorted from the police department,” Meeks said.
Walton doesn’t face any additional charges, only the marijuana with intent to distribute charge from the original arrest.
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