A routine traffic stop turned into a 281-pound pot bust for a Pinal County Sheriff’s Department Deputy late Monday night.
The Deputy was patrolling Interstate 8 around 11 p.m. about 20 miles south of Maricopa when he attempted to stop a 1999 Chevy Suburban heading east, according to department spokesman Tim Gaffney.
The vehicle initially slowed and pulled to the right, but then accelerated away.
The deputy pursued the vehicle a short distance, until the driver pulled over and fled into the desert with three to four male passengers.
Inside the truck, the deputy discovered 10 bales of marijuana valued at $140,500.
Deputies were unable to locate any of the suspects.
The bust rounds out one of the busiest years for pursuits tied to drug busts according to Gaffney.
From Jan. 1- Dec. 28, 2010, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office deputies were involved in 333 vehicle pursuits – more than double the 142 in 2007 and the 140 in 2008.
Pursuits this year led to deputies impounding more than 45,000 pounds of marijuana with a street value of more than $22 million.
Read other marijuana-related news here:
https://www.inmaricopa.com/NEWS/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?mid1=430&&ArticleID=9414
https://www.inmaricopa.com/NEWS/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?mid1=430&&ArticleID=9616
