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On Saturday morning at approximately 11:57 a.m. Decatur County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Timothy Fowler conducted a routine traffic stop for distracted driving. This traffic stop led to the arrest of Jamil Moreland for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

According to reports, Fowler was traveling on U.S. Hwy. 27 South when he noticed Moreland not wearing his seatbelt. As he attempted to pass Moreland, he also noted Moreland had his cellphone in his hand. Fowler then initiated a stop and asked the driver, later identified as Moreland, for his information. While talking with Moreland, Fowler noticed an odor of marijuana.

Fowler then requested backup, as he believed he may have to search the vehicle. Deputies William McClanahan and Gary Hines later arrived on scene to assist. Fowler advised Moreland that he smelled marijuana coming from his vehicle and asked for Moreland’s honesty.

Moreland showed Fowler a glass ashtray with a stem from a marijuana bud on it. Fowler asked Moreland if that was all that was in the vehicle; Moreland then grabbed a clear, plastic baggy containing less than an ounce of marijuana and showed it to Fowler.

Fowler then asked for consent to search Moreland’s vehicle, which Moreland agreed to.

While Fowler was conducting the search, Moreland confessed to McClanahan and Hines that there was a pound of marijuana behind the passenger seat.

McClanahan and Hines informed Fowler, who then located the pound of marijuana in a clear-vacuum sealed package, inside of a white garbage bag, along with some black tennis shoes. 

Upon finding this, Fowler contacted on-call investigator Justin Kelly and Adam Mobley. Fowler continued to search the vehicle and later located an unknown amount of $100 bills in the center console, which he turned over for evidence.

Mobley and Kelly then took over the investigation, while Fowler booked Moreland for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, seatbelt violation and texting and driving.