Congratulations to Roanoke County Police Officer Nathan Hunt upon being named the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce Officer of the Month for February 2012.
On February 29, Officer Hunt was on duty when he observed a maroon vehicle in front of him in the area of Williamson Road. A check of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) files indicated that the operator’s license for the registered owner of the vehicle was suspended. Officer Hunt maneuver his patrol car to get a better look at the driver and determined that the person driving the vehicle matched the features of the person in the photograph provided by DMV. A traffic stop was then made.
Upon approaching the vehicle, Officer Hunt noted a strong odor of smoke and air freshener coming from the vehicle. After returning to his patrol car, Officer Hunt was advised by his back-up officer that the driver was continuing to spray more air freshener. Officer Hunt returned to the subject’s vehicle and was granted consent to conduct a search.
After beginning the search, Officer Hunt quickly detected an odor of marijuana. Officer Hunt followed the odor to the passenger front seat where he removed six small plastic sandwich bags from under the seat. He then located a white trash bag under the seat. After further inspection of this bag, he recovered eight softball-size baggies of marijuana with a combined weight of 285.9 grams. The driver of the vehicle was placed under arrest.
Officer Hunt is to be commended. His observation skills and instinct prevented a large amount of marijuana from reaching the community