Menu
Deputies arrest two for allegedly having 30 pounds of pot in car
Two Iowa men were arrested for allegedly having more than 30 pounds of marijuana in their car following a routine traffic stop Friday.
On Nov. 28, an Elmore County sheriff's deputy stopped a vehicle traveling eastbound at mile post 114 on I-84 for making an improper lane change, according to scanner traffic.
The deputy attempted to make contact with the driver and passenger, but the two male occupants in the car refused to roll down the window for the deputy and demanded to see a lawyer.
The deputy then requested back up and, with help arriving, the two male subjects began to comply with the deputy's commands.
Both males initially were arrested for obstructing and delaying an Officer.
An Elmore County Sheriff's Office K-9 was deployed on the exterior of the vehicle, the drug dog alerted to the vehicle.
Deputies subsequently searched the vehicle and allegedly discovered approximately 31.35 pounds of marijuana in the back seat of the vehicle.
Kenneth Playle and Travis E. Wharton, both from from Altoona, Iowa, were then arrested and charged with drug trafficking in marijuana.
Playle and Wharton are in custody at the Elmore County Detention Center. Both were scheduled for arraignment Monday.
The street value of the marijuana is estimated at over $155,000.
The investigation is ongoing.
In related news, the Elmore County Sheriff's Office announced that it had concluded several drug investigations which resulted in a series of arrests over the last few months.
On Aug. 15, Alexander B. Thompson of Mountain Home was arrested and charged with a felony count of trafficking in marijuana. Deputies acted on a narcotic's search warrant for his residence and discovered one pound of marijuana.
On Oct. 8, Brandon K. Wheeler and Jennifer L. Montrose of Mountain Home were arrested after Elmore County detectives served a narcotics search warrant at their residence. During their search, detectives seized $1,665 dollars of suspected drug money and 3.2 ounces of crystal methamphetamine with a street value of approximately $10,000 dollars. Both suspects were charged with trafficking in methamphetamine.
On Oct. 30, Tamela R. Hiddleston of Mountain Home was arrested and charged with three felony counts of delivering a controlled substance. During a drug investigation, detectives determined that Hiddleston had delivered quantities of methamphetamine and marijuana.
On Nov. 21, Thomas A. Wells of Mountain Home was arrested by county detectives for felony count of possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance. At the time of his arrest, Wells was in possession of a quarter pound of marijuana.
On Nov. 26, Elmore County Detectives sought a warrant for Ryan Klingler from Washington State for selling a controlled substance. Klingler is accused of selling a quarter pound of marijuana to an undercover officer during a drug investigation.
On Nov. 26, county detectives arrested Marta Jensen of Mountain Home on a felony count of delivering a controlled substance for selling a quarter pound of marijuana. During a search of her residence, county detectives seized one pound of marijuana and $1,600 dollars in cash along and also seized her vehicle. Jensen had recently moved here from Washington State.
These cases are ongoing, and the sheriff's office expects to make more arrests, said Chief Deputy Mike Barclay.