YCSO K-9s help seize over 130 pounds of marijuana, including some wrapped as Christmas gifts
K9 Haddie with evidence (Yavapai County Sheriff's Office)
ASH FORK, Ariz. - During a traffic stop on Interstate 40 near Ash Fork on Jan. 7, a Yavapai County Sheriff's Office deputy detected a odor of marijuana emanating from a Toyota Highlander.
According to YCSO, the driver, 50-year-old Phatsavong Rasasy from Alabama, was extremely nervous and deceptive in his answers while talking to the deputy and initially denied that there was any marijuana in the vehicle. He later stated there was a small amount of marijuana, some of which he smoked earlier.
"Based on a reasonable suspicion that Rasasy was involved in illicit drug activity, and following his refusal to allow a search, the deputy deployed his certified K9 partner Haddie for an exterior sniff around the vehicle. Following Haddie’s alert to the odor of drugs, a search was conducted," stated YCSO's Dwight D'Evelyn.
The deputy later found 22 pounds of marijuana in a duffle bag and another 20 pounds under a blanket in the back seat.
YCSO says Rasasy, admitted to transporting the marijuana from northern California to an eastern state and had been paid several thousand dollars.
Rasay was arrested and booked into the Camp Verde Detention Center. He's accused of transportation of marijuana for sale, possession/use of marijuana for sale, possession/use of marijuana and possession/use of drug paraphernalia. He remains in custody on a $15,000 bond.
Samson Budagyan and Phatsavong Rasasy (Yavapai County Sheriff's Office)
On Dec. 30 during another traffic stop on I-40 near Ash Fork, a YCSO deputy detected the odor of raw marijuana coming from a Nissan Altima.
YCSO says the driver, 34-year-old Samson Budagyan from California, was deceptive in answering questions. The deputy saw several wrapped Christmas gifts in the vehicle, which Budagyan claimed were for his children.
Budagyan did not consent to a search of the Nissan and the deputy's K9 partner Maximus sniffed around the exterior of the vehicle. After alerting to the odor of drugs, a search was conducted.
K9 Maximus with evidence (Yavapai County Sheriff's Office)
"During a search inside the Nissan, deputies found several vacuum sealed packages of marijuana concealed in boxes wrapped with Christmas paper, along with three suitcases in the trunk area also containing marijuana. A total of 95 pounds of marijuana was seized," stated D'Evelyn.
Budagyan was booked into the Camp Verde Detention Center and later released on a posted bond of $40,000. He's accused of transportation of marijuana for sale, possession of marijuana for sale, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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