A Texas man was arrested last week after Louisiana State Police said a traffic stop on Interstate 20 led to the discovery of marijuana and three juveniles riding in the vehicle.
According to an affidavit, a trooper stopped a Hyundai Sonata around 12:05 a.m. on June 29 near mile marker 99 after allegedly seeing the vehicle change lanes without signaling. A records check also showed the vehicle’s registration had expired in October 2025.
The driver, identified as Sterling D. Tennessee, 30, of Grand Prairie, Texas, reportedly told the trooper he was traveling from Dallas to Atlanta.
State police said Tennessee appeared nervous and gave statements investigators considered inconsistent with normal travel. The trooper smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
The trooper found three juveniles were riding in the back seat. A green suitcase containing about 1.5 pounds of marijuana was found in the trunk.
Tennessee was booked on one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and three counts of cruelty to juveniles. He also received traffic citations for an improper lane change and expired registration.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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