ELIZABETHTOWN — A vehicle stop by Elizabethtown police officers on Saturday led to three arrests when the odor of marijuana was detected.
According to Elizabethtown police Chief Kip Hester, officers made the vehicle stop on South Poplar Street, where the driver of the vehicle gave a fictitious name.
“Officers noticed the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle (and they) ordered the three occupants out of the vehicle and a vehicle search was conducted,” Hester said. “Officers discovered a loaded .357 magnum revolver in the vehicle along with several counterfeit $1 and $5 bills.”
Hester added that a small amount of marijuana was also located.
According to the report, the driver of the vehicle, 31-year-old Keith Powell of Bladenboro, and a passenger, 32-year-old Lorenzo White of Elizabethtown, are convicted felons. Powell and White were arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a felon along with possession of counterfeit currency. each were booked into the Bladen County Jail — Powell’s bond was set at $50,000; White’s bond was set at $20,000.
Also arrested was passenger Mary Elizabeth Jenrette, 18, of Fayetteville. She was charged with carrying a concealed firearms and possession of marijuana.
Hester said that, during the past month, Elizabethtown Police Department has taken several reports of counterfeit currency at businesses throughout the city.
“Merchants, please be aware of this and notify your employees to take note of the currency received throughout the business day,” Hester said. “We have seen denominations of $100s, $10s, $5s, and most recently $1 counterfeit bills. Our agency is working closely with the banks and businesses of this town as we continue to receive information about the origination of this counterfeit currency.”
Anyone with information that would be useful in this investigation can call the Elizabethtown Police Department at 910-862-3125.
— W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.