A traffic stop on I-20 in Parker County on Monday turned up dozens of bags of marijuana plus liquid THC. The driver told deputies he was transporting the marijuana to be sold illegally.
The Nissan SUV was pulled over after it passed an emergency vehicle on the shoulder of I-20 that had its lights activated, but failed to reduce speed or yield the right of way. The Texas Move Over/Slow Down law requires drivers to move over one lane or to reduce their speed for emergency vehicles that are stopped on the side of the road with activated emergency lights.
Parker County Sheriff's Deputy Corporal Jeremy Vandygriff and K-9 Deputy Ussa conducted a preliminary search of the vehicle. After an alert from the K-9 unit, additional deputies searched the SUV. They discovered 107 sealed packages of marijuana and 21 vials of liquid THC.
Deputies arrested 44-year-old Joey Salvador-Galvez of Escondido, California. He has been charged with manufacturing delivery of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana under 2,000-pounds.
Under Texas law, the possession or use of marijuana is still illegal. In some cities, police stopped arresting suspects for possession of small amounts of marijuana after the state legislature legalized hemp. Those local policies generally apply to possession of less than four ounces of marijuana. Monday's case in Parker County involved approximately 100 pounds of marijuana and 21 grams of liquid THC.