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Eight pounds of pot seized
The Huntington Police Department confiscated approximately $40,000 to $50,000 worth of marijuana, over $3,500 in cash, and prescription drugs during a traffic stop Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, in Huntington.
Purchase this photoHUNTINGTON -- Police seized eight pounds of marijuana that officers said had a street value of at least $40,000 and arrested a Morgantown man early Thursday.
Huntington Police Lt. J.T. Combs valued the marijuana's worth between $40,000 and $50,000.
The confiscated marijuana was extremely potent and of a higher grade with elevated levels of THC, Combs said. He said the arrest was part of a larger investigation and he anticipates more arrests.
It was one of two busts where officers confiscated marijuana in a 24-hour period.
Thursday's seizure led to two felony counts of possessing a controlled substance with intent to deliver charges against Eric Douglas Clark, 41. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of driving on a suspended/revoked license.
Clark was incarcerated at 6:35 a.m. Thursday in the Western Regional Jail. Bond was set at $51,000.
The criminal complaint states police stopped Clark's vehicle for a traffic violation in the 1600 block of 6th Avenue. Dispatchers quickly advised his driver's license was suspended for unpaid citations.
A Huntington Police K-9 conducted a "free air sniff" of the area. It detected drugs. Officers searched Clark's vehicle and found the marijuana and 19 Lortab pills, the complaint states.
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration also participated in the case, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
In the other case, city police seized several bags of marijuana, three prescription pills and arrested two people Wednesday night in Huntington.
Tossie Michael Skaggs, 26, and Natasha Gail Dilernia, 32, were charged with felony possession of marijuana with an intent to deliver, according to court and jail records.
Police also charged Dilernia with three counts of misdemeanor drug possession and two worthless check warrants, the records state.
The arrests came after the Huntington Police Department raided a residence in the 500 block of Monroe Avenue. Criminal complaints state both defendants lived at the residence.
The marijuana criminal complaints state police found several bags of marijuana and digital scales. The documents charge both suspects with admitting to distributing the drug.
Other criminal complaints charge Dilernia with possessing three prescription pills -- a Percocet, a Lortab and a Flexeril. She did not have a prescription for the medication.
Both defendants were transported to the Western Regional Jail. Skaggs was detained on a $30,000 bond. Dilernia's bond was $39,400.
