The Laurel Police Department made a sizable drug bust Wednesday afternoon, May 27. Corporal Michelle Howell made a traffic-related stop of William A. Jackson on Masonite Drive about 3:00 p.m. that day; Jackson was allegedly speeding and pulled through a stop sign without fulling stopping. When Howell got to the vehicle she smelled a strong odor of marijuana. A black bag was sitting in the back seat, and it contained nearly 10 pounds of marijuana. No weapons or cash was uncovered at the scene, and Jackson did not resist arrest.
The officers secured a search warrant to look for additional drugs at Jackson’s house, which is located on Airport Drive, but no other drugs were discovered. Jackson’s bond will be set today on a charge of possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
“This is a pretty good lick,” commented LPD Chief Tommy Cox. “We don’t get ten pounds very often. Everybody knows we’ve been a little bit short-handed, but we have not ceased to work narcotics and everything else.”
The LPD recently hired four new officers, which will bring the police department close to full capacity personnel wise. Cox said the Narcotics Division, which is supervised by Capt. Earl Reed, will also get some additional help now that the overall department is fully staffed.
“We don’t put every bust they get out, but this one was pretty significant. We thought it would be good to let the public know that work has not stopped,” Cox added.