Police Seize Six Pounds of Marijuana During I-85 Traffic Stop Near Hamilton Mill Road

An April 11 traffic stop on I-85 northbound near Hamilton Mill Road led to three arrests and the confiscation of more than six pounds of marijuana.

A Gwinnett County Police officer patrolling near the Mall of Georgia exit noticed a maroon Nissan Altima cross the outside lane line with its passenger side tires. The officer stopped the vehicle for failing to maintain lane and, upon speaking with the driver, noticed a strong odor of raw marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.

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The three occupants of the vehicle gave the officer conflicting stories regarding why they were in the Atlanta area. The driver said he came to Atlanta to visit a female he met on the internet. One of the passengers indicated the group had come to Atlanta to record some music.

Based on the odor of marijuana, the officer conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle. In the trunk, the officer located a duffel bag containing 6.42 pounds of marijuana.

Darmail Hardy, 22, and James Galloway, 32, both of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Roger Kirkpatrick, 33, of Kernersville, N.C. were booked into the jail on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Their vehicle was impounded.

All three men were released from jail the following day, each on a $11,200 bond.

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