TRAFFIC STOP YIELDS LARGE DRUG SEIZURE, SUSPECT ARREST

Griffin joannA Benton woman faces multiple felony charges after officers find a large quantity of suspected drugs in the vehicle. Detectives with the Benton Police Department and Saline County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigation Unit (SIU) had conducted an undercover investigation for several weeks of 42-year-old Joann A. Griffin’s drug distribution activity. This investigation culminated into Griffin agreeing to sell an undercover detective one pound of high grade marijuana and 50 Hydrocodone pills.

At approximately 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, SIU detectives conducted a traffic stop on Griffin and detectives seized 50 suspected Hydrocodone pills, suspected marijuana and U.S. currency from the vehicle. Griffin was taken into custody and faces felony charges of Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Use of a Communication Device to Facilitate a Crime and an enhancement due to the Proximity to Certain Facilities.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Benton Police Department at 501-778-1171 or 501-315-TIPS. Individuals also may send us anonymous information to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword BNPD in the body of the text or go to www.crimereports.com to leave a tip. A crime tip can also be submitted via the official Benton Police Department app found on ITunes and Google Play.

Any suspects listed are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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