Troopers seize 21 pounds of pot in Turnpike bust

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - An Oregon man was arrested on drug trafficking charges following a traffic stop in which state troopers seized 21 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $195,130.

During a routine traffic stop near milepost 87 of the Ohio Turnpike, officers noticed raw marijuana in the center console of Russell Hines' 2006 Volkswagen Passat, leading to a probable cause search in which troopers found 21 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of the car.

Hines, 29, of Ashland, Oregon, was eastbound on the turnpike when he was pulled over at 11:40 a.m. Jan 27 for slow speed and unsafe lane change.

Court records show the vehicle was released to Sandusky County Drug Task Force Administrator Mark Apple for processing.

Hines was booked in the Sandusky County jail on $20,000 bond and charged with two felony counts of trafficking.

The suspect posted bond with the stipulation that he stay in Ohio until his preliminary hearing. A hearing date has not been set.

cshoup@gannett.com

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Twitter: CraigShoupNH