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Garrard traffic stop leads to 800 pounds of marijuana

November 06, 2005

LANCASTER - A traffic stop in northern Garrard County early Thursday led to the discovery of 800 pounds of processed marijuana in Jessamine County, authorities said.

Garrard County Deputy Sheriff Dave Amon and his drug-sniffing dog, Sarge, found about seven pounds of processed pot inside a Dodge pickup truck after state police stopped the vehicle on U.S. 27.

Amon said Sarge, who has been with the local sheriff's department for about two years, sniffed out the marijuana immediately after the truck was stopped. This is the largest amount of marijuana Sarge has found. The canine is used to assist any agency that requests help, said Amon.

Buddy Messer, 34, of 1581 Mount Lebanon Road in southeastern Jessamine County, was arrested about 11:30 a.m. in Garrard County with trafficking in more than 5 pounds of marijuana.

After Messer's arrest, state police obtained a search warrant for his property. Authorities discovered and seized 72 bundles of processed marijuana that weighed about 11 pounds each inside a horse trailer on the property, state police said.

The pickup, horse trailer, $3,200 cash, and assorted drug paraphernalia also were seized.

As a result of the search, Messer also was charged with a second count of trafficking in more than five pounds of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was lodged in the Lincoln County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bond.

The seizure was the largest amount of marijuana nabbed in Jessamine County, as well as the entire Post 7-Richmond area and ranks in the top 10 percent of marijuana seizures in state police history, state police Commission Mark L. Miller said.

"The drugs have a street value of more than $750,000, Miller said. "This action takes a significant amount of illegal drugs off the streets and out of our communities," Miller added.

The arrest followed information received by the Richmond Post and through an investigation by Trooper Mark Young and Sgt. Tackett Wilson.

Working with the investigation are state police Detective Dustin Hon, state police Drug Enforcement-East Branch, Garrard County Sheriff's Department and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

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