Cigarettes, Air Freshener Fail to Hide Scent of Marijuana

Poor driving and a failed attempt to mask the odor of marijuana ended in the arrest of two North Carolina men on drug charges last week.

On March 8, a Gwinnett County Police officer traveling southbound on I-85 near Hamilton Mill Road noticed a black GMC Yukon weave across the fog line seven times within a one mile distance. The officer initiated a traffic stop and, upon approaching the vehicle, noticed the driver, Griffin Wilt of Boone, N.C., and his passenger, John Templeton III of Gastonia, N.C., both had freshly lit cigarettes. The officer also noticed three “Black Ice” air fresheners hanging on the rearview mirror.

The officer asked if Wilt had been drinking and Wilt said he had not. The officer asked Wilt to exit the vehicle in order to interview him further. According to the police report, once Wilt discarded his cigarette, an odor of marijuana became evident.

When asked, Wilt initially denied having any marijuana in the vehicle. Upon further questioning, Wilt confessed he had smoked some earlier in the day. Eventually, Wilt admitted having drugs in the Yukon. When the officer asked where the drugs were located, Wilt said Templeton had concealed the marijuana under the seat.

Once backup arrived, the officer returned to the vehicle and confronted Templeton with Wilt’s admission regarding the marijuana. When asked where the drugs were concealed, Templeton allegedly reached under the seat and pulled out a glass jar containing marijuana.

Both men were placed in handcuffs at that time. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, the officer found a black book bag containing a sunglass case in which a marijuana pipe was concealed. The officer also found a first aid kit containing marijuana and a grinder that also contained marijuana.

Both men were transported to the Gwinnett County Detention Center and charged with possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.