Two South Carolina men were arrested on a laundry list of charges on Jan. 29 following a traffic stop on I-20.
Quashon Boulware, 23, of Rock Hill, S.C., is being charged with cruelty to children in the 3rd degree, possession of a firearm while trying to commit crimes, possession of a Schedule 1 controlled substance with Intent to distribute, and tampering with evidence. La’Nijawun Ramonta Stalk, 23, is being charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and tampering with evidence. According to reports, Sgt. Leo Sierra initiated a traffic stop on a white Kia with South Carolina plates heading eastbound near milepost 141.5.
The vehicle was stopped for a window tint violation. A test revealed a light transparency of 25%.
Sierra said he detected a “strong, distinct odor of marijuana emitting from inside the vehicle” after he made contact with the occupants. Sierra asked the driver and passenger if there were any weapons in the car, but was assured there were none.
Sierra explained the reason for the traffic stop and, while speaking with the driver, observed passengers making erratic movements, so all four were removed from the vehicle.
The front seat passenger was identified as Stalk, and the man seated directly behind Stalk was Boulware. A 19-year-old female was also in the car.
A 16-year-old female was seated next to Boulware.
Sierra found cash on Boulware’s person and more in a pink purse in the back seat, totaling $3,500. He also found a plastic bottle containing THC wax, according to the report.
Wrapped inside a multicolored blanket located on the rear seat floorboard, Sierra found a loaded Palmetto State Armory Dagger Compact handgun. The juvenile female said Boulware gave her the gun and told her to hide it along with two bundles of currency.
Inside another purse located on the rear seat, Sierra found a plastic bag containing marijuana and a rolled marijuana cigar on the front of the floorboard.
According to the report, a GCIC Criminal History Report revealed that Stalk was recently convicted of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, a felony, in Lancaster County, South Carolina.
Both men were transported to the Greene County jail without incident. The driver and the female passenger were released with the vehicle.