NASHVILLE - A Highway Patrol traffic stop Thursday in Marion County resulted in the discovery of 60 pounds of marijuana. The suspect fled the scene and is still at large.
Trooper Brent McCawley stopped a Lexus ES300 for a traffic violation on Interstate 24 westbound about 11:49 p.m. Thursday. The male driver was unable to produce a driver's license and would not get off his cellphone after repeated requests from the investigating trooper.
Trooper McCawley attempted to arrest the driver for driving on a suspended driver's license but the driver ran to his vehicle and fled the scene. Trooper McCawley initiated a brief pursuit of the vehicle until it traveled off the highway at exit 143 and turned onto a dead end street. The suspect then bailed from the vehicle and escaped on foot.
The trooper requested additional assistance before pursuing the subject on foot. Trooper Michael Kilpatrick and a law enforcement official from Jackson County Alabama arrived on the scene with their canines to track the subject. The trail was lost after approximately 1.5 miles.
Meanwhile, Trooper McCawley searched the suspect vehicle and located a large duffel bag in the trunk. The contents of the duffle bag, included, two vacuum sealed bags, each containing three large bails of marijuana for a total of six bails. In total, the drugs weighed approximately 60 pounds.
The investigation is ongoing.