State police seize 542 pounds of marijuana
Story date: March 5, 2009
By Michael Ford
crime@couriernews.com
The Arkansas State Police seized 542 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $860,000 on Monday after an officer initiated a traffic stop on a tractor trailer for an unsafe lane change while traveling east on Interstate 40 near Russellville.
Antuan Duane Turner, 37, of Gardena, Calif., the driver of the vehicle, and Robert Tamu Brown, 39, of Los Angeles, Calif., the passenger, were both arrested after Trooper Chris Goodman found 20 bundles of marijuana in the truck hidden among pallets.
A report by Goodman indicated the two men gave conflicting stories, and both were uncooperative after their initial statement. However, Turner admitted to the officer he received $3,400 for making the trip.
The two men are currently being held at the Pope County Detention Center in lieu of a $250,000 bond set by District Judge Don Bourne at a hearing Wednesday. If charged, their circuit court date will be April 6.
Both men admitted during Wednesday’s hearing they had previously been convicted of felonies. Brown told the judge he worked in the cell phone business, and Turner said he was a truck driver.
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