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ELSINORE, Sevier County — Police seized 100 lbs. of marijuana from a car Saturday along I-70 in Sevier County.
According to the Sevier County Sheriff's Office, Sgt. Adrian Hillin stopped Clifford Scott Thompson, 32, for speeding. Thompson, of Las Vegas, was driving a rental car, but was not on the vehicle's rental agreement.
Sheriff Nathan Curtis said Thompson claimed he was heading from Las Vegas to the eastern part of the country to repossess a Hummer, but did not have paperwork.
"That kind of stuck out," Curtis said. "It didn't add up for the officer."
Hillin noticed items in the car that "aroused suspicions," according to Curtis, including a bulletproof vest. The car also smelled strongly of laundry detergent and looked lived in.
"The way he was behaving — in a car with the air conditioning on, but just pouring down sweat — his behavior was consistent with our experience with people trafficking drugs," Curtis said.
Hillin called for a drug dog from the Salina City Police Department and found six suitcases containing vacuum- sealed packages in the trunk of the rental car.
Officers field tested the packages and found them to contain THC. Thompson was booked into the Sevier County Jail on charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Bail was set at $50,000.
Police said the marijuana has a street value of $760,000. They are unaware of where Thompson obtained the drugs or where he was headed.
