Two Poplar Bluff men face drug trafficking charges stemming from a traffic stop made last weekend in Ripley County.
Justin D. Gipson, 25, and Jaleel D. Gipson, 30, both of the 1000 block of Fairmount Street, are each charged with the one Class B felony count of second degree drug trafficking, one Class C felony count of delivery of a controlled substance and one Class E felony count of unlawful use of a weapon.
According to the probable cause statement by Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Justin Johnson, he was on patrol east of Doniphan on U.S. Highway 160 at 1:23 p.m. Saturday, June 11, when he reportedly observed a white 2014 Kia Optima traveling at an excessive rate of speed, leading him to stop the vehicle.
Johnson then identified the driver of the Optima as Justin Gipson. While speaking to the occupants of the Optima, Johnson allegedly noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, at which time Johnson asked Justin Gipson to have a seat in the front of his patrol vehicle.
When Johnson went to search the Optima, Jaleel Gipson reportedly handed Johnson a packet containing roughly four grams of a green leafy substance. Johnson then found a bag containing approximately 126 grams of a green leafy substance behind the passenger seat, and also reportedly found a bag containing approximately one-half pound of a wet, white and yellow crystal substance. The search also reportedly yielded a pair of handguns in the floorboard of the driver’s side front seat.
The Gipsons then were arrested and taken to Troop E before being handed over to the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department. Johnson then contacted Task Force Officer Scott Johnston, who tested the crystalline substance and reportedly found it tested positive for methamphetamine.
Both Gipsons are out on $75,000 bail apiece. Justin Gipson waived formal arraignment, while Jaleel Gipson was slated to be arraigned Wednesday morning at the Ripley County Courthouse