Williams

THOMASVILLE — The odor of marijuana coming from a vehicle traveling through a Friday night road check resulted in the driver being charged with felony drug and firearm offenses, according to authorities.

A Chevrolet Suburban driven by John Clifford Williams, 26, 229 Glem Drive, was pulled over, and a Thomasville Police Department (TPD) canine alerted on the rear of the vehicle.

“In the back of the Suburban, there was a Mason jar containing individually wrapped little bags twisted together,” said TPD Lt. Donna Langston, who was in charge of the road check operation.

The marijuana and loaded Taurus 9mm and Glock 17 handguns were found in a backpack. A loaded AR-15 rifle also was found in the vehicle.

“They’re owned by him. We confiscated them,” Louis Schofill, Thomas County/Thomasville Narcotics/Vice Division commander, said in reference to the firearms.

A yet-undetermined amount of cash was seized from the suspect. Langston said digital scales and plastic bags indicative of marijuana sales also were found in Williams’ vehicle.

The suspect is charged with marijuana possession with intent to distribute and three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He was released from the Thomas County Jail on a $6,000 bond.

The road check was Friday from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the intersection of Smith and Covington avenues. Area police departments and the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the operation.

Agencies assisting are members of the Southwestern Traffic Enforcement Network. Area road checks are conducted a minimum of once monthly.

When a vehicle arrives at the road check, officers ask for a driver’s license and look for child car seats and seat belt use.

“The thing with marijuana is it’s got its own particular smell,” Langston said. 

Vehicles with marijuana odor emitting are pulled over and searched for the contraband.

Forty-two citations and eight warnings were issued during the road check. Six arrests were made, and the canine was deployed three times.

A breakdown shows:

• 11 — No seat belt

• 10 — No child restraint

• 6 — Window tint violations

• 7 — Expired tag violations

• 1 — Open container

• 1 — Driving while unlicensed

• 1 — Driving with suspended license

• 4 — Misdemeanor marijuana possession

• 1 — Possession of a drug-related object

• 8 — Warnings issued for headlight violation, no license on person and expired tag

The main things looked for at road checks are impaired drivers, drivers who are not licensed and seat belt use, Langston said. 

She said that of the 278 traffic deaths in Georgia to date this year, 65 percent were the result of not using seat belts.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820