Drug stop turns into getaway

Feb. 7—A traffic stop near Pauls Valley was quick to become a planned drug arrest before it turned into even more with a brief pursuit as a suspect hit the gas in an attempt to get away.

Now authorities are on the lookout for Texas residents Philbert Quentin McCoy Jr., 22, and Lajarius Deuntra Simpson, 29.

It was McCoy who drove away from a traffic stop Jan. 27 before literally ditching the vehicle and fleeing on foot.

Simpson, who was taken into custody, now has a warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear for an initial court appearance on the criminal charges filed against him in Garvin County District Court.

Both face three felony counts after state troopers found more than 180 pounds of marijuana in their vehicle, along with two loaded assault rifles and two handguns.

The traffic stop came when troopers pulled over a white Chevy Suburban near the main Pauls Valley exit as it traveled southbound on Interstate 35.

A court document shows McCoy, who was the passenger, said "no sir" when asked if there were any weapons on board. Troopers also reported seeing an ankle monitor on Simpson, who claimed to be on probation.

Those same troopers also said the two men had conflicting stories as to what they were doing, while both also appeared "extremely" nervous.

Then multiple large trash bags were seen, along with a strong marijuana odor, a trooper said he approached the passenger side to get McCoy out of the vehicle.

Instead, McCoy had other ideas about how it was going to go down.

"He jumped over the center console and took off southbound on I-35," troopers reported.

With Simpson detained, troopers and Garvin County sheriff's deputies then went after the fleeing vehicle driven by McCoy.

About a mile down the highway they found the vehicle stuck in a ditch as McCoy took off from the scene on foot. An arrest warrant was soon issued for McCoy.

When troopers searched the vehicle they reported finding seven large trash bags and one box containing vacuum-sealed bags with the large amount of marijuana. The weapons were also found inside.

As part of the arrest warrants bonds of $100,000 were issued for McCoy and $50,000 for Simpson.

----Two other suspects were found to have more than 42 pounds of marijuana in their vehicle during a traffic stop Jan. 29 several miles south of Pauls Valley.

Now facing a trio of charges each are Korian Leigh Attaway, 28, and Aundrea Lasha Guillory, 27.

An odor of marijuana was the listed probable cause to search the vehicle as troopers found the marijuana in bags, along with two loaded pistols.

With Attaway driving the vehicle and Guillory claiming he rented it, a third person riding as a passenger was released.