Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Arrest

Officers stopped a car weaving across the lanes of I-480 East on Feb. 24. As they approached the driver, they could smell burned marijuana coming from the car.

The driver, Frederick Saunders, 53, of Youngstown, and his passenger, Robert Adams, seemed to be "extremely nervous" according to the report, with shaking hands and heavy breathing.

Saunders said they had been visiting a friend and were on their way home. They both told police they had no history with drug use.

Officers found out otherwise.

A background check revealed Adams had multiple drug suspensions on record and Saunders had a long list of drug arrests. This prompted the officers to do a canine search for drugs in the car.

K9 Yasso found an indication of drugs, and while both men were being searched, a bottle of Hydrocodone-Chlorpheniram, a prescription pain reliever, was found. They also found a second bottle in the trunk with a Pennsylvania woman's name on the prescription.

Saunders told cops the bottles were there before he left, borrowing someone else's car. When police called the pharmacy, they found out otherwise.

Saunders finally told them he had it filled earlier that evening and that he recieved the bottles from a friend in Youngstown.

Saunders was booked for possession of drugs, two counts of illegal processing of drug documents, and weaving.