Trio Arrested In Canadian County Smuggling Drugs Cross County In Classic Car

Sheriff’s deputies in Canadian County busted a group of people traveling across the country with drugs, cash and a stolen firearm, in a classic car, Wednesday morning.

The suspects, a couple from Oregon and a man from Tennessee, were stopped after a deputy noticed the ’66 Chevy Impala Station Wagon they were traveling in, swerve in and out of lanes on Interstate 44.

According to the report, the deputy could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside of the vehicle as he approached. He soon radioed for backup to help search the vehicle. The search turned up one large vacuum sealed bag of high-grade marijuana, a container which held two ounces of a liquid-based marijuana drug known as “Shatter”, and a stolen .22 caliber pistol.

The estimated street value of the drugs was said to be about $15,000. The deputies also found just under $19,000 in cash in the vehicle as well.    

“My deputies did a really good job searching the car, and found some of the drugs and money stashed under the seats, and the gun inside a black back-pack along with more drugs in the rear cargo area of the vehicle,” said Randall Edwards, Canadian County Sheriff.

The suspects all gave investigators different stories, but eventually straightened things out. They determined the driver, 22-year-old Joseph Miller of Tennessee, to be the nephew of 42-year-old Stephen Pendleton of Oregon. Also in the car was Pendleton’s 19-year-old girlfriend, Christina Maddox.

Once all of the suspects were identified, deputies learned Miller had flown to Oregon to help move his uncle and girlfriend back to Tennessee.

All three suspects were arrested and taken to the Canadian County Jail.

Miller was booked on one count of Endeavoring to Commit a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense. His bond was set at $10,000. 

Pendleton and Maddox were each booked on counts of Endeavoring to Commit a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense, Possession of a Firearm While in the Commission of A Felony, Possession With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance and Possession of Drug Proceeds. Their bonds were set at $35,000.