Traffic Stops Net Dope, Weapons

Three drug busts by Department of Public Safety, in two weeks, netted three arrests and the seizure of $34,000 worth of meth, and four weapons.

DPS Trooper Brady Lunceford stopped a 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, driven by Timothy Ray Stampley, 37, Oak Grove, Louisiana, on October 5 on Interstate 20, eastbound near the 522 mile marker.

Stampley’s traffic violation was for no license plate light.

"I talked to him and he appeared to be very nervous and had a very screwed up story about where he was coming from on vacation," Lunceford explained.

Lunceford then asked for consent to search Stampley’s vehicle. Once Lunceford was given permission that is when he located a travel mug with what appeared to be a false bottom.

Lunceford said when he removed the bottom of the mug it revealed 90 grams of meth with a street value of around $9,000.

Upon further search of the vehicle, Lunceford located two loaded pistols; one in the trunk and the other in the floor board on the passenger side.

Stampley was charged on charges of possession of a controlled substance/four to 20 grams which is a second degree felony. He was also charged with unlawfully carrying of a weapon.

Stampley was arrested and transported to the Van Zandt County Jail.

Then on October 11, at 9:30 p.m., Lunceford stopped a 1996 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Timothy Brady, 45, Atlanta, Louisiana.

Brady was stopped on a traffic violation for cutting in after passing, eastbound on Interstate 20 at the 544 mile marker.

"He appeared nervous and gave an unbelievable story," Lunceford said; once Brady was questioned.

When Lunceford asked Brady for consent to search his vehicle, he refused.

Lunceford then radioed to Smith County for a DPS canine that came out and "did alert on the vehicle."

Because officers were given probable cause, due to the canine’s alert on the vehicle, a search of the vehicle resulted in Lunceford locating 206 grams of methamphetamines valued at $20,600 which was in a blue bag on the rear passenger seat of the pickup.

The search also lead Lunceford to locating two loaded pistols in the truck.

"One of the pistols was laying on the seat with the meth, and the other was under the passenger’s seat," Lunceford said.

Upon checking Brady’s records, Lunceford learned that he was also a convicted felon.

Brady was arrested and transported to the Van Zandt County Jail, where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance 200/400 grams which is a first degree felony, and felon in possession of a firearm, which is a third degree felony

Then on October 13, Lunceford stopped a 1995 Chevrolet pickup, traveling eastbound on Interstate 20, at the 529 mile marker, for a defective license plate violation.

The driver Galor Stiner, 36, and his passenger Michael Baker, 29, both of Mooringsport, Louisiana, gave Lunceford reason to believe something more was wrong than just a license plate violation.

"Both men appeared nervous and gave me conflicting stories," Lunceford said.

After being given consent to search the vehicle and the subjects, 44 grams of meth were found in Barker’s shoe.

The meth, Lunceford explained, has an approximate street value of $4,400.

Barker was arrested for possession of a controlled substance four to 200 grams, which is a second degree felony.