EVANSVILLE — A traffic stop on Interstate 69 led Evansville detectives to more than 42 pounds of marijuana — much of it recovered after the man behind the wheel allegedly directed investigators to his own home.
Jordan W. Rushing, 32, faces charges of dealing marijuana greater than 10 pounds, a Level 5 felony, and driving with a suspended license with a prior conviction.
The traffic stop that would lead to Rushing’s arrest began around 6 p.m. Tuesday, when a detective with the Evansville Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force observed a silver Toyota Corolla, bearing Texas license plates, traveling south on I-69 at 78 miles per hour in a 70 mph zone and drifting across the fog line near the Boonville-New Harmony Road interchange.
According to Rushing’s arrest affidavit, when EPD Detective Mitchell Mansfield approached the car near I-69’s 13-mile marker, he reported immediately smelling the odor of raw marijuana. The driver, identified as Rushing, said he had no license.
When detectives asked Rushing to step out of the vehicle, he allegedly rolled up the windows, switched off the engine, locked the doors and shut them — leaving a dog inside the car. Detectives called Tri-State Towing to unlock the vehicle and animal control to take custody of the dog. Rushing was placed in handcuffs, read his Miranda rights and, according to the affidavit, agreed to speak with investigators.
Rushing is alleged to have told police he had about 23 pounds of marijuana in his car. He told them he was on his way to meet someone near his East Maryland Street apartment to hand off what he was carrying.
There was also, he said, roughly an ounce of marijuana back at the apartment.
A search of Rushing’s car turned up nearly 30 pounds of marijuana, police allege, vacuum sealed in black trash bags in the trunk.
Inside Rushing’s apartment and garage, detectives reported finding another 12.78 pounds of marijuana along with more than $2,000 in cash, a digital scale, plastic bags and two Taurus 9mm handguns. Four more dogs were also at the residence. According to EPD spokesman Sgt. Anthony Aussieker, animal control had received multiple prior complaints about the address but had been unable to reach anyone there.
In the affidavit, Mansfield — a six-year law enforcement veteran with four years in narcotics — wrote that the volume of marijuana, combined with the firearms, currency, scale and packaging materials, was “far above a user amount and is indicative of dealing illegal narcotics.”
Rushing also had an outstanding arrest warrant from Harrison County, Indiana, according to the affidavit. Evansville police did not describe the nature of the warrant, but court records list a warrant in Rushing’s name out of Harrison County for driving with a suspended license and possession of marijuana.
In Vanderburgh County, prosecutors filed formal marijuana dealing charges against Rushing on Friday. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance Monday in Vanderburgh Circuit Court.
Courier & Press reporter Houston Harwood covers criminal justice. Reach him at wharwood.gannett@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville man arrested after I-69 stop yields 42 lbs. of marijuana
Reporting by Houston Harwood, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Houston Harwood, Evansville Courier & Press | USA TODAY Network
