By Pat Culverhouse

A traffic stop by Webster Parish deputies on Interstate 20 Tuesday has resulted in the seizure of nearly a quarter of a million dollars worth of marijuana and the arrest of a Georgia man.

Sheriff Jason Parker said Lt. Charles Wimberly and Sgt. Josh McCormick stopped a truck pulling a camper trailer near the Dixie Inn exit around 10 a.m. for a traffic violation.

During a routine interview with the driver, 65-year-old Joseph A. Harper, Jr. of Sylvania, GA, and his passenger, deputies reportedly found discrepancies in the stories of their travels. At that time, deputies requested a Louisiana State Police trooper bring a K-9 unit to the scene.

After K-9 Officer Migo reportedly alerted to the presence of drugs in the camper, Harper reportedly admitted a large amount of marijuana was inside. He also reportedly admitted a handgun was inside his truck.

During the search, officers reportedly found several duffle bags with approximately 150 pounds of suspected high-grade marijuana with a street value of approximately $225,000. The 150 pounds translates to more than 4,000 grams, officers said.

Harper is currently being held in Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center on charges of possession of CDS Sch. I (marijuana) with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in the presence of CDS and a traffic violation. His bond has been set at $275,000.

Parker said an investigation into the incident is continuing.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.