Crater of Diamonds Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest

On the evening of September 24, Murfreesboro Police Officer Mackenzie Vermillion conducted a traffic stop at the entrance of the Crater of Diamonds for speeding and driving left of center.

During the stop, Officer Vermillion identified the driver as 64-year-old Charles Russell of Muldrow, Oklahoma. Vermillion advised Russell that he detected the smell of marijuana and Russell allegedly informed Vermillion that he had smoked some marijuana earlier. Russell’s passenger, Misty Casey admitted she had a small amount of marijuana in her purse. Vermillion placed both subjects in his patrol vehicle and searched Russell’s vehicle. Vermillion located a glass smoking pipe that contained a white residue in it and a small plastic baggy containing suspected methamphetamine.

Russell was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance – meth or cocaine.