Traffic stops by the Nebraska State Patrol resulted in two unrelated drug busts with two arrests each yesterday on opposite ends of the Panhandle, one near Sidney and one near Hay Springs. The Sidney one was larger, with a trooper seizing 127 lbs of marijuana

In that case, the trooper was patroling along Interstate 80 when he saw a late-model SUV improperly parked just off Exit 48 with the driver relieving himself. The trooper said that after stopping, he smelled the odor of marijuana as he approached the vehicle.

That led to a probable cause search of the SUV and the discovery of the marijuana in 3 large bags in the cargo area. A pound of hashish, a small amount of cocaine, and $960 in cash were also seized.

The driver, 23-year old Kenneth Turner of Pittsburgh, was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and public urination while a passenger, 20-year old Gabriel Nowak of Finleyville, was arrested on an identical marijuana charge. Both were lodged in the Cheyenne County Jail.

The Hay Springs incident involved a more interesting collection of drugs: 2 small bricks of marijuana totaling 1.6-pounds, a pound of marijuana-laced rice krispy treats, and 1.2-gallons of liquid THC…the main mind-altering ingredient found in pot.

Trooper Craig Kumpf, who made the arrest, isn’t certain but believes the THC liquid is used in cooking to make pot-laced foods such as the treats he seized.

Kumpf says he stopped the vehicle with 3 adults and a 14-month infant about a mile south of Hay Springs on Highway 87  because it was speeding and had no front license plate.

After interviewing the adults and concluding their stories didn’t match, Kumpf requested and was given permission to search the vehicle.

He found the drugs in the trunk, hidden inside clothing with the five rice krispy treats in plastic bags and the THC liquid in orange juice containers.

Two of the 3 adults…20-year old Dakota Mesteth of Pine Ridge and 25-year old Evan Tenbear, whose residence was unknown…were arrested on 3 possession counts each involving over a pound of marijuana, intent to deliver, and drug paraphernalia. Both are in the Sheridan County Jail.

The third adult was released while the infant was placed in the care of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.