Traffic Stop Results in Arrests

A traffic stop in Nashville has resulted in the arrest of two individuals. Nashville Patrol Officer Mackenzie Vermillion conducted a traffic stop on a black 2003 GMC Yukon on April 22nd. The passenger was identified by the officer as Chasity Ward of Nashville. Officer Vermillion had knowledge that Ward had an outstanding warrant for her arrest for non-payment of fines in the amount of $3,083. The driver was identified as Robert Jason Dillard of Nashville. While waiting for Dillard to produced identification and vehicle documents, the officer noticed what appeared to be boxes of ammunition sitting in the center console. Officer Vermillion asked Dillard if there were any weapons inside the vehicle and Dillard said that there were none. He then gave the officer consent to search the vehicle. The search resulted in the discovery of a Ruger LCP 380 caliber pistol, which was fully loaded, and several rounds of various caliber ammunition. Officer Vermillion then located ten individual bags containing a crystal-like substance believe to be methampehtamine, one syringe, one smoke pipe, one torch lighter, a small amount of suspected marijuana and $2,304 dollars in United States currency. The bags containing suspected methamphetamine weighed between 1.8 grams to 3.8 grams for a total of 31 grams.

Ward was taken into custody for the warrant and transported to the Howard County Detention Facility. Dillard was taken into custody and charged with Simultaneous Possession of Drugs and Firearms, Possession of Methamphetamine with Purpose to Deliver, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Firearm by Certain Persons. No bond has been set at this time.

Report by Nashville Police Department
Criminal Investigations Division
Investigator Mark Barnes