November 19, 2024
A traffic stop on Interstate 40 Eastbound led to the arrest of a Florida man for trafficking over 200 pounds of marijuana on November 11. The suspect, identified as Samuel Wayne Waters, 76, from Jacksonville, Florida, was taken into custody after Troopers with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol discovered a large quantity of the controlled substance in the suspect’s vehicle.
The incident unfolded when dispatch notified law enforcement of a single-vehicle accident near the 84-mile marker off-ramp. Upon arrival, Weatherford police were already on scene, and officers reported that Waters had refused medical attention. Officers observed a gray pickup with front-end damage and several large black trash bags in the cargo bed.
Waters stated he was transporting contents from New Mexico to Florida for his son. During the interaction, Waters claimed that another vehicle caused him to veer off the roadway into a concrete barrier. He received a warning for improper lane usage, and a wrecker was called to tow the vehicle. However, while inspecting the scene, officers detected the odor of marijuana. A search of the vehicle revealed vacuum-sealed bags containing a green leafy substance confirmed as marijuana, hidden within eleven trash bags and two duffel bags.
The total weight of the marijuana was approximately 204 pounds, with additional items including rubber bands, overnight bags, and miscellaneous trash reinforcing the evidence. Waters was read his Miranda Rights and declined to speak further. He was transported to the Custer County Jail without incident.
Waters now faces felony charges of trafficking in illegal drugs under Oklahoma law, which carries potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison and fines ranging from $25,000 to $200,000.
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