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PARKERSBURG -- Officers with the Parkersburg Police Department conducted a traffic stop Monday for a general moving violation, leading to a major drug seizure and arrest.
During the stop, a canine handler responded to the scene and conducted a free-air sniff around the vehicle for the presence of controlled substances. The canine alerted officers to the presence of narcotics, prompting a search of the vehicle.
As a result, officers discovered approximately 12 grams of suspected fentanyl along with a substantial amount of U.S. currency.
The driver, Clarence Julius Smith, 39, of Parkersburg, was taken into custody and charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl.
Following the arrest, officers executed a search warrant at Smith's residence on Pickering Street. The search led to the discovery of an additional one pound of fentanyl, two pounds of suspected methamphetamine, and various items consistent with drug distribution.
The Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force also assisted with the investigation, executing a separate search warrant at a hotel in Wood County. That search resulted in the seizure of additional controlled substances and U.S. currency.
The total street value of the narcotics seized is estimated to be approximately $100,000.
Smith was arraigned in Wood County Magistrates Court, where his bond was set at $300,000 cash, which he failed to post.
Authorities remind the public that all arrestees are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.