The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Source:
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:43 PM
East TN Traffic Stop Leads To Discovery Of Mason Jar Full Of Marijuana Of Knoxville Man's Guicci Backpack Tuesday
Knoxville police said they pulled over Christopher West because he was driving a red Chevrolet Cobalt without a tag light.
After checking West's license and registration, police said they learned West was driving with a suspended license. Investigators said his licence was suspended on March 3rd for failure to pay fines.
While searching West's car, officers said they found a a mason jar, full of 18.2 grams of marijuana, inside a Gucci backpack. They also found around 30 cellophane baggies inside the backpack.
According to police, West said the weed was his brother's, who instructed him to get rid of the marijuana so he could pay his bills.
Three days later, March 23, Knoxville police said they were paroling Virginia Avenue looking for West.
While on duty, officers said they noticed a man, who fit West's description, traveling in a car at a high rate of speed toward Jourolman Avenue.
After turning on their lights and sirens, police said the man, later identified as West, turned onto Alliance Drive, bailed on his car and took off on foot.
Investigators said officers began chasing West for several blocks before they used a taser to stop him.
Once on the ground, police said they ordered West to show them his hands because had been digging in his waist band during the entire foot chase. West refused, according to police and proceeded to place his hands under his stomach. An officer struck West in the knee then followed up with a punch to the face because he would not cooperate.
Authorities said West was being defiant, continued to disobey the officer's commands and attempted to go inside his jacket pocket. As a result, an officer tased West, and with help from other police officers arriving on the scene, was able to take him into custody.
After searching the car West abandoned earlier, police found marijuana, scales, baggies and a loaded firearm.
When he got to jail, police said West was found with what is believed to be about 5 grams of cocaine in his possession.
Court documents showed West faces several charges, including a schedule II drug charge, contraband in penal facility charge, possession of a firearm, evading arrest, possession of unlawful drug paraphernalia, simple possession and resisting arrest.
