Cash, marijuana confiscated in traffic stop

A car with no taillights led sheriff deputies to the discovery of nearly $3,700 in cash and marijuana last Friday, resulting in two arrests.

According to a report filed by Sgt. Nikia Elliott of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department, he pulled over a vehicle with no taillights late Friday night.

Elliott spoke to the driver, Michael Lee Oliver, 22, of Manchester, who said that he had borrowed the vehicle from a friend in Wartrace and was returning it to her.

The deputy noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and Oliver told Elliott that his license was probably suspended.

While Elliott was waiting on license information, the deputy reported that Oliver was moving around the vehicle suspiciously, "leaning under the driver's seat and laying over in the passenger seat."

Reserve Deputy John Eden also watched from the rear of the car and observed Oliver rummaging through the glove box.

Oliver's license was confirmed to be suspended and Elliott asked him if there were any narcotics in the car because he said he could smell the marijuana. Oliver said he had smoked some earlier that day, denying that any drugs were in the car.

Oliver was placed under arrest for the suspended license and searched, leading deputies to discover $369 in his pockets.

However, when Eden began doing an inventory search of the vehicle before it was towed, he found two large stacks of money in the glove box.

Considering the large amount of money found and the strong smell of pot, Elliott called Det. Sgt. David Sakich to the scene with narcotics K-9 officer Sem.

While awaiting the dog's arrival with Sakich, the owner of the car, Lyndsey Ann Bradley, 21, of Manchester, pulled up.

Elliott told her what had been found and what could be smelled, and Bradley said she knew nothing about that, claiming that Oliver had borrowed the car earlier in the day and "was supposed to return it hours ago."

She also said she was in Manchester when a friend called her to let her know her car had been pulled over, so she came to see what happened and retrieve her vehicle.

Elliot asked for permission to search the vehicle and at first Bradley gave permission, but after speaking to an unidentified male in the car she arrived in, changed her mind. Elliott said that after the K-9 was finished, then he would speak to her about releasing the vehicle.

Sakich then arrived with Sem. After the dog checked the car, deputies found approximately one ounce of marijuana under the driver's seat, along with two other Ziploc bags "possibly used for packaging marijuana."

Oliver told Elliott he knew nothing about the drugs or money that were found because the car was not his, even though Eden had observed him rummaging through the glove box before his arrest.

Elliott then spoke to Bradley about what was found in the car and asked to see what was in her pockets. That revealed a pack of rolling papers. Bradley claimed to use the papers for regular cigarettes, but had no tobacco in her possession. Bradley admitted to smoking pot with the papers and she was arrested as well.

A total of $3,694 in cash was recovered from the vehicle, and Oliver was charged with possession of schedule VI drug for resale, and driving on revoked/suspended license. He was released on $11,500 bond. Bradley was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and released on $500 bond.