THP Makes $32,000 Dollar Seizure in McMinn County

NASHVILLE, Tenn., — A Tennessee State Trooper making a traffic stop ends up seizing 32-thousand in cash.

On Wednesday, January 17, 2007 a THP Trooper stopped a rental vehicle on I-75 in McMinn County for speeding and suspicion of DUI. Inside the 2006 Grand Prix rented out of Knoxville, the Trooper found $32-thousand dollars in U-S Currency. The driver, a 39 year-old white male, was arrested for DUI and possession of marijuana. Other charges are pending as the investigation continues.

The Trooper was conducing stationary observation radar at approximately 9:30 Wednesday morning when he observed the Grand Prix speeding at MM 45 southbound on I-75. The suspect vehicle passed by the stationary patrol car and nearly ran into the median of the interstate, according to the Trooper.

After stopping the suspect vehicle at MM 42, the driver was determined to be intoxicated and admitted to smoking marijuana. The subject failed field sobriety tasks but refused further testing. During a pat down, marijuana was recovered from the subject. A search of the vehicle console uncovered a large potato chip bag filled with $100.00, $50.00 and $20.00 dollar bills in thousand dollar increments.

The subject denied the money was his and advised troopers that the money must have been left in the rental vehicle. The currency was seized in accordance with state law.

The Tennessee Department of Safety (www.tennessee.gov/safety) is responsible for ensuring the safety and general welfare of the traveling public. The department’s general areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education and motorist services including the issuance of driver licenses. The department and its highly trained staff of Troopers are responsible for safety on more than 15,000 miles of state and federal highways.