A routine traffic stop Thursday lead to a discovery of about 15 pounds of marijuana for the Columbus-Lowndes Metro Narcotics Unit.
Columbus Police Department Narcotics Agent Don Richardson stopped the driver of a vehicle with an invalid license plate at Country Mart Store, located at 7456 Highway 182 East.
“Agent Richardson asked the driver, Patrick Holiday, for his driver’s license,” said Columbus Police Department Public Information Officer Glenda Buckhalter. “The driver stated that his license was not valid and he presented a photo identification card. Agent Richardson generated a conversation with the driver and the passengers, who were Holiday’s wife, Conesha Holiday, and Alberry Ervin Jr. He had separate conversations with the three of them, and each person gave a different story. Agent Richardson became suspicious when he asked for permission to search the vehicle and was granted it and Mrs. Holiday could not find the keys to the trunk. He called the K-9 unit to come walk around the vehicle and the K-9 indicated that drugs were in the trunk. Mrs. Holiday gave the keys to Agent Richardson and he discovered over 15 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of the vehicle.”
Patrick Holiday, 33, Conesha Holiday, 27 and Ervin, 41, were arrested. They were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Bond and court dates have not been set and all remain in the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center.
The estimated street value of the seized marijuana is $25,000.
“The marijuana was found inside a suitcase in the trunk,” Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mark Miley said. “This was a great effort between the Columbus-Lowndes Metro Narcotics Unit, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.”
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