A Starkville man was arrested over the weekend with approximately 22 grams of crack cocaine.
Starkville Police Department Officer Bubba Willard said he was driving on North Montgomery Street Saturday at about 12:45 a.m. when he noticed a vehicle being driven by 28-year-old Brian Boyd, who is known to stay in the area. Knowing Boyd already was driving on a suspended license, Willard said he pulled Boyd over on East Garrard Road.
During the traffic stop, Willard”s K-9 partner, a drug-sniffing Belgian Malinois, picked up the scent of narcotics, Willard said.
Upon further inspection, Willard discovered Boyd had a “large quantity” of crack cocaine with a street value worth between $2,500 and $3,000, and paraphernalia, he said.
Boyd was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license. Boyd posted a combined bond of $10,937.50 for the three charges.
Approximately 36 hours after Boyd”s arrest, Willard and his K-9, whom he declined to name, made two more drug busts.
On Sunday afternoon, Willard pulled over a vehicle on Henderson Street and his dog alerted him to the smell of marijuana and cocaine inside.
Police charged both Monique Hemphill, 30, and Kenneth Pittman, 33, with possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance. Pittman also was charged with an open container violation, while Hemphill was cited for not wearing a seat belt.
The Starkville Police Department only began its K-9 program in January of last year, Willard said, but it already has been a success.
“They”re a good tool for us,” Willard said of the two dogs in the program, “just like our sidearms, our patrol cars and our Tasers.”
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