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A routine traffic stop for an Oakboro policeman turned into a drug bust Oct. 2.

Oakboro Police Sgt. David Daigle made a speeding violation traffic stop at around 2:15 p.m. When the driver, Tykeem Ra Hsan Jomal Sumpter of Sumter, S.C., gave his license and registration to the officer, Daigle asked the driver about a smell of marijuana coming from the car.

When he asked the driver to get out of the car, Sumpter drove off at a high rate of speed. After a high-speed chase through Oakboro’s east side of town, the driver went off-road and Daigle lost the vehicle. However, upon further investigation, an area with several pieces of the underbody of the car were found as the vehicle had hit a ditch.

Oakboro then asked for the help of the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Jared Efird and his K-9 partner, Bodie, searched on the property where the vehicle parts were located. The deputies found two bags filled with approximately 18.2 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated street value of $100,000.

Warrants are being obtained for Sumpter by Daigle, including two felony counts of trafficking of marijuana, felony maintaining a vehicle with a controlled substance, felony flee/eluding arrest, possession of marijuana with intent to sell or distribute, reckless driving and speeding.