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On Thursday, July 25th, 2024, at 11:47 A.M., I stopped a black Dodge Ram pickup for crossing the painted yellow line on I-40 eastbound at the 40-mile marker. I approached the vehicle from the passenger side and made contact with the driver and sole occupant, identified as Brent Pope. I informed Pope of the reason for stop and asked him for his driver's license registration and insurance. Pope was antsy while looking around for the items I asked about. I also could smell a faint odor of marijuana. During our conversation, Pope appeared nervous and his voice was shaky. I asked him to step out of the vehicle and he did. I asked Pope where he was going to and coming from and the reason for the trip. Pope said he just went to Oklahoma yesterday to drop off a chainsaw piece and was coming back today. I went back to my car and checked Pope's license. Due to the quick trip, nervousness, and faint odor of marijuana, Trp. Lewis asked for consent to search the vehicle. Trooper Dalton Lewis inquired if there was anything illegal in the truck bed.
Pope shook his head no. Trooper Lewis then asked if Pope would open up the bed of the truck and Pope agreed. Pope proceeded to unlock and open the truck bed. Inside the bed, we located 7 large trash bags, containing approximately 202lbs of suspected marijuana. Pope was subsequently placed under arrest. Further inspection inside the vehicle revealed a marijuana pipe and a small plastic container containing suspected marijuana in a backpack on the passenger seat. I read Pope his Miranda rights on the side of the road and asked him if he would be willing to talk to investigators. Pope agreed. I asked him if he was getting paid to transport the marijuana and he told me he was getting paid $7,000.00.
Pope told me that he found an ad on the internet to make a delivery. He said he went to Oklahoma and backed into a garage and they loaded his vehicle with something. I asked him if he thought it would be something illegal and he said yes. Pope was transported to the Ozark Police Department, where he was interviewed by investigators. Pope asked for an attorney and decided not to cooperate with those investigators. The evidence and vehicle were seized by the 5th DTF. I transported Pope to the Franklin County Jail where he was booked on the appropriate charges.
29 сен 2024
