Linden police officers arrested three people in a traffic stop on Saturday, March 9 for possession of marijuana in the first degree.

After a K-9 search, officers opened the trunk to find almost a pound of marijuana in the trunk of the vehicle.

Arrested on this stop was Phillip C. Russell, who was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana in the first degree and open container in a vehicle.

Blakley Tartt was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana in the first degree and Joshua W. Cannon was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana in the first degree and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

The vehicle was owned by Cannon but was being driven by Tartt.

During the traffic stop at Abbott Street and Third Avenue police smelled an odor of an alcoholic beverage and possibly marijuana.

Police called Perry County Sheriff’s department to send their K-9 to the scene.

The K-9 and handler arrived and the dog went to work indicating to the officers that there were drugs in the trunk compartment of the vehicle.

Officers opened the trunk to find almost a pound of marijuana inside a Rubbermaid container.

Police searched the rest of the vehicle to find nothing but did search the occupants and located 18 and three-fourths Xanax pills.