Sheriff finds five pounds of weed at traffic stop

At about 12:38 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, Orange County Sheriff Jimmy Lane Mooney initiated a traffic stop that yielded five pounds of marijuana, a bag of unknown pills and a .38 caliber revolver.

According to a news release, Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) Sheriff Mooney noticed a 2015 Nissan Altima traveling east on Interstate 10, failing to maintain a single lane and speeding.

Upon conducting a traffic stop on the vehicle, Sheriff Mooney began speaking with the driver, identified as 32-year-old Henry Lee Holmes. While speaking with Holmes, Sheriff Mooney observed several indicators leading him to believe there was further criminal activity afoot. 

Sheriff Mooney then requested consent to conduct a search of the vehicle and was denied consent by Holmes. Sheriff Mooney then requested the assistance of the Beaumont Police Department (BPD) K-9 Unit, who arrived a short time later. The K-9 gave a positive alert to the presence of drugs in the vehicle, and officers completed a probable cause search. The search of this vehicle revealed approximately five pounds of marijuana, a bag of an unknown type of pills and a .38 caliber revolver.

Holmes was later arrested for a felony possession of marijuana, along with unlawfully carrying a weapon. The unknown pills were also submitted as evidence for testing and further charges could be filed at a later date.