Nov. 12 — Priceville police made three drug busts on Interstate 65 over the weekend, while Limestone County deputies, after recovering more than 24 pounds of marijuana in a drug raid, are still searching of two suspects.

Markale Mantille Stinnett, 27, of Rogersville, is charged with trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Priceville police.

Police said Stinnett was pulled over Friday around 7 p.m. for following the vehicle in front of him too closely while driving on I-65 near mile marker 331 with his two young children in the vehicle.

“During the traffic enforcement action, several factors observed led officers to believe the driver was involved in criminal activity,” police said.

Police said they searched the vehicle and found “Xanax pills pressed with blue methamphetamine” and a “chalk-like powder identified as fentanyl,” as well as paraphernalia.

Stinnett’s children were released to other legal guardians, according to police, and the Department of Human Resources was notified.

“Additionally, Stinnett was charged with endangerment due to the fact that he had his two young children in the vehicle at the time of the stop,” police said.

Stinnett remained in the Morgan County Jail Monday in lieu of $1,440,000 bail.

—

Marijuana

Priceville police said they found more drugs on the highway after stopping a vehicle for a “minor traffic violation” around 12:30 a.m. Sunday near mile marker 334.

Essence Launa Ridley, 37, and Clarence Vincent Evans, 40 — both of Toledo, Ohio — are each charged with trafficking in cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to deliver or sell, according to police.

“A probable cause search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of approximately 16 pounds of marijuana,” police said. “The occupants were also in possession of several packaging materials consistent with the illicit sale and transportation of bulk narcotics and U.S. currency.”

Marijuana is illegal in Alabama, and medical cannabis remains in legal purgatory.

Ridley and Evans each remained in the Morgan County Jail Monday in lieu of $31,000 bonds.

—

chalk

On Thursday, the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit and SWAT, with assistance from Madison County Deputies and Athens Police, executed multiple search warrants in Athens.

Deputies, who did not release the location of the searches, said they seized more than 24 pounds of marijuana, a distributed quantity of methamphetamine, a small amount of crack/cocaine, an assortment of pills, 10 illegally possessed firearms and cash.

Following the operation, two arrest warrants were issued for the Athens men.

Jarvis Deshaun Cain, 45, is charged with trafficking marijuana, persons prohibited from possessing a handgun and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Terrias Dontas Cain, 40, is charged with trafficking in cocaine, two counts of certain persons prohibited from possessing a handgun, first and second degree possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of crack/cocaine, according to the sheriff’s office.

Both Dogs were still at large as of Monday.

“I would like to thank our deputies and all of our law enforcement partners, whose collaboration and commitment were critical to the success of this operation,” Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin said in a statement.

Court records show Jarvis Cain was charged with attempted murder and first-degree burglary in 2011 before the charges were dismissed in 2014, while Terrias Cain pleaded guilty to first-degree possession of marijuana in 2007.

— [email protected] or 256-340-2438.