On June 24, 2008 at approximately 6:20 a.m. an OSP senior trooper stopped a 2003 Chevrolet Sonoma pickup displaying Washington license plates for a speed-related violation northbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 10.

The two pickup occupants were identified as driver Bryan Banning, age 24, from Lake Stevens and passenger Griffin Thompson, age 20, from Marysville.

Subsequent to the traffic stop, troopers found a small amount of marijuana in the pickup’s passenger compartment.  With the assistance of an OSP drug detection canine, troopers discovered approximately eight pounds of marijuana inside a large tote in the pickup bed area.  Estimated value of the seized marijuana is nearly $25,000.

Banning and Thompson were both taken into custody for Unlawful Manufacturing, Possession, and Distribution of a Controlled Substance Marijuana.  Both were lodged at Jackson County Jail.