SALINE CO.— It appears that a routine traffic stop landed a Carrier Mils man behind bars on a pair of felonies.
According to information filed in the case, on November 29, at approximately 12:52 a.m. Harrisburg police officer Nick Keltner was on patrol when he spotted an orange Mazda with two subjects driving northbound on Club Street when it turned westbound on Oral Street without using a turn signal.
Once officer Keltner had the vehicle stopped at Mach One, located at 44 North Commercial St., he made contact with the driver identified as Thomas E. Sanders, 21, of 4726 East End St., Carrier Mills, and passenger Strawberry D. Hood, 21, of Harrisburg.
While speaking to both occupants of the vehicle Keltner said he detected the smell of cannabis.
When asked, Sanders informed Keltner that he and Hood had smoked weed within the past 30 minutes.
Both Sanders and Hood said there was no cannabis in the vehicle but when asked to step out Hood threw a small bag of weed on the ground.
Once both were secure for officer safety Keltner searched the rest of the vehicle and located a Smith & Wesson .380 Bodyguard handgun between the front driver seat and front console.
Jeffrey T. Parks, 29, informed police the gun belonged to him.
The vehicle was towed from the scene and a further inventory revealed a .45 caliber round in the trunk of the car.
Strawberry was released to her mother.
Sanders was released from police custody November 30 after a $2,500 cash bond was posted on his behalf by Deserie Murdach, of 412 South Timothy Ln., Galatia.