By Ray King
A traffic stop by sheriff’s investigators Tuesday resulted in the arrest of four individuals, three of whom had bonds set for them during a court hearing Thursday.
Jefferson County District Judge Kim Bridgforth ruled prosecutors have probable cause to charge Trenton Rogers, 18, Brandon Puckett, 18, and Javion Williams, 17, with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms and possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver.
Probable cause paperwork submitted by investigators did not mention the fourth individual, Braylon Butler 18, and Bridgforth said prosecutors will have to get the paperwork corrected and conduct a hearing for Butler later.
Deputy Prosecutor Mircha King said investigators were on East Harding Avenue just after 3 p.m. when they saw the driver of a white vehicle drive left of center multiple times. They activated their lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop and the driver, later identified as Rogers turned north of Missouri and began to slow down but did not initially stop.
King said when Rogers did stop, he opened the driver’s door as if he was going to run and investigators drew their weapons.
King went on to say that investigators continued to search and told the court what they found.
In all, five firearms were seized. The suspected marijuana field tested positive and weighed 5.5 ounces the white power tested positive for cocaine and weighed 4 ounces. The suspected drugs and firearms will be sent to the State Crime Laboratory.
A $30,000 cash-only bond was set for Rogers because of prior charges and $20,000 secured bonds for Puckett and Williams. Butler was released pending further investigation.
