On Thursday, July 02, 2020 at approximately 2:05 PM, Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office deputies assigned to the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force observed a silver Mitsubishi Outlander traveling west on I-64 near the 22 mile marker. The vehicle was traveling a constant 80-85mph in 70mph zone. Deputies conducted a vehicle stop for the speed violation at mile marker 18.
The driver was identified as X`Zavier Whitted. The only passenger was identified as Zamounte Whitted. The two stated that they were married to each other and lived in Virginia. They stated they were travelling to St. Louis, Missouri to visit family.
During the initial approach to the vehicle to speak to the occupants, deputies detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside. A deputy asked the occupants if there was anything illegal in the vehicle and both occupants stated there was not.
Deputies asked both occupants to exit the vehicle and they agreed to do so. Both again stated there was not anything illegal inside vehicle. Deputies then began a probable cause search of the vehicle based on the odor of marijuana coming from inside it.
The following items were recovered from inside:
- green leafy substance (suspected marijuana) inside container, located in flower backpack in backseat
- black duffel bag containing numerous packages of four different items (brownies, circle shaped cereal bar, shredded wheat type cereal bar, and multi-colored round puff type cereal bar) packaged the same way
- package containing brownie, located in front passenger door panel
- hand-rolled marijuana cigarettes found on Ms. Whitted
Samples of all the edible items field tested positive as marijuana. More than 50 packages of THC edibles were seized during the stop. The total field weight of the seized items was approximately 8 pounds.
Both occupants waived their Miranda rights and answered questions from deputies. Mrs. Whitted stated that all the contraband located belonged to her. She stated that she was transporting the THC products to St. Louis to give to her grandmother. Deputies also spoke with Mr. Whitted and admitted that he had made the THC containing products himself. He claimed that the brownies did not contain THC, but admitted that the cereal bars did.
The items were made to look like consumable food products and were made from various types of breakfast cereal. The items were cut into bars and individually packaged as food items. The manner in which the items were packaged, and the dangerous drug chemicals which they likely contain, could pose a dangerous safety hazard if encountered by an unsuspecting person, especially young children, who could easily confuse the items with safe-to-eat cereal and brownies.
The amount of THC products seized is indicative of an amount not for personal use but for distribution for profit. Both occupants were arrested and charged with Dealing Marijuana, a Level 6 Felony.
ARRESTED:
Pictured aboce: Sample of some of the edible drugs seized from the vehicle.
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
