The Gauntlet Traps Alleged Transporter

Among transporters of marijuana, Willits is known as the Gauntlet because so many people get picked up for traveling with the still largely illegal substance.  Last Friday, a Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputy says he found 31 pounds in the trunk of a man from Phoenix, AZ.

Press release provided by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office below:

Capture2On 08-28-2015 at approximately 12:49 PM, a Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputy observed a white Toyota Corolla with expired registration tabs traveling southbound on Highway 101 near Willits, California.

The Deputy conducted a traffic stop at MPM 56.13 and contacted the driver, Franklin Timothy Lunney.

During the stop the Deputy detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the car.

A search of the car revealed two large duffle bags in the trunk. The duffle bags contained approximately thirty-one pounds of bud marijuana packaged in one-pound increments.

Lunney was arrested for transportation of marijuana and was subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail to be held in lieu of $50,000.00 bail.

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Realitymonger
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Realitymonger
8 years ago

Where does the gauntlet start and end? On the southern end, there is very heavy presence in the Cloverdale area. Cops searching people all day and night. Literally. Another spot is the 55mph zones north and south of Hopland.

Watch your speed!

Gazoo
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Gazoo
8 years ago

Never commit misdemeanors while transporting felonies…

Judy Stanfield
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Judy Stanfield
8 years ago
Reply to  Gazoo

True dat

Lost Croat Outburst
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Lost Croat Outburst
8 years ago

As noted, Willits is the area described. Humboldt drivers in general need to be aware that when the road (101) goes to two lanes anywhere, Willits, Laytonville you-name-it, the speed limit is 55 mph. Trailer or not. My wife got ticketed there while driving me to the VA hospital with my appointment for heart failure. She was a bit nervous and worried and I was not well and we blew it. Boy Scout looking CHP was unfazed by my situation and rather than issue a warning to the sick vet, chose to ticket. Not a glorious day for the CHP. 66 in a 55 zone is over the 5 mile gray zone and mercy denied. In Humboldt, we get used to 65 in four lanes most of the time.

If you can afford to buy many pounds of wholesale weed, then you can afford to have all your stickers and lights legal and you can scrupulously slow down in metro areas and be a legal driver. Otherwise, might as well get a green neon pot leaf to put in your back window.

silverlining
Guest
silverlining
8 years ago

Go Giants? ……You know, I swear people have stolen tags off my vehicle before. But that would have been accessible to the CHP officer with a quick search.

Franklin Lunney
Guest
Franklin Lunney
8 years ago
Reply to  silverlining

The registration was good, someone stole the tags off my rental car. GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!

Franklin Lunney
Guest
Franklin Lunney
8 years ago

The registration was good, someone stole the tags off my rental car. GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!
Can’t go into details but its getting dropped

V man
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V man
8 years ago

And that might be one of the reasons you probably will never be a cop 😎
Profiling is a no-no

T.C.
Guest
T.C.
8 years ago

What a freaking idiot!!!

Franklin Lunney
Guest
Franklin Lunney
8 years ago
Reply to  T.C.

Sometimes I can be and deciding to make the trip was definitely stupid.
My wife,baby and I live off $800 a month I was tempted by the money and gave in.

Saucy
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Saucy
8 years ago

” a Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputy says he found 31 pounds in the trunk of a man from Phoenix, AZ.” — How dafuq?

t
Guest
t
8 years ago

Cruise control ftw!

Life is Good
Guest
Life is Good
8 years ago

I would say you could eliminate the word ‘alleged’ from the headline if he was the only person in the car with 31 elbows in the trunk. Oh wait! He borrowed the car, that’s it.

john
Guest
john
8 years ago

I would like to point out that with the Inspection of the vehicle that his lawyer did the tags were current and up to date. This was an illegal traffic stop.

Franklin Lunney
Guest
Franklin Lunney
8 years ago
Reply to  john

It was a rental ,someone stole the tags off the car and I’m certain it was a set up but I can’t go into detail. Charges are getting dropped. Thank you for not being an asshole and actually looking at all the information.