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Deputy makes drug arrest

Friday morning routine traffic stop turned into a drug-related arrest that could lead to a larger investigation.

McCreary County Sheriff’s Deputy Odell Smith conducted a traffic stop on a black Saturn car on US 27 at 1:21 a.m. Friday for an equipment violation.

As the deputy was speaking to the occupants of the vehicle, the passenger, identified as Bennie Smith Jr., 44, of Calhoun Georgia, reached in to the vehicle’s glove compartment to retrieve the vehicle registration.

As he did so, Deputy Smith observed what appeared to be a handgun, partially concealed in a black bag. The officer called for back up and ordered the two occupants out of the vehicle.

The officer discovered a semi-automatic handgun with one shell chambered and five loaded in the magazine. Smith, who admitted he had just been released from prison in July on rape charges, and had drug charges pending against him in Georgia, denied knowledge of the weapon.

On searching his person Deputy Smith discovered approximately 3.3 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 3 grams of marijuana, rolling papers and a cut off straw concealed in a sharpie pen case.’

Smith admitted the drugs were his at the time.

Smith was arrested and charged with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Deputy Smith stated the location the subject had came from was a known drug trafficking area, and he may have come to McCreary County as part of a drug transaction.

The driver was not charged as he claimed he had no knowledge of the drugs.

The investigation is continuing and additional arrests may be pending.

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