This article was originally published on GoErie.com by Tim Hahn on Feb 20, 2018

Millcreek Township police seized a large amount of suspected marijuana in a traffic stop in the township on Saturday.

Two men face felony and misdemeanor drug charges in the seizure, which happened in the 3400 block of West Lake Road on Saturday at about 5:40 p.m., Millcreek police reported on Tuesday.

Two officers, patrolmen Ryan Presnar and Graeme Perkins, stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation and smelled a strong odor of marijuana as they approached the vehicle, Millcreek police Capt. Mike Kabasinski said Tuesday. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 10 pounds of suspected marijuana and approximately $4,000 in cash, Kabasinski said.

The driver of the vehicle, 24-year-old Union City resident Lowell D. Stauffer Jr., was taken into custody and was arraigned by Millcreek Township District Judge Laurie Mikielski on a felony count of possession with intent to deliver; on misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; and on a summary count of obstructed window. Stauffer remained in the Erie County Prison Tuesday on $50,000 bond.

A passenger in the vehicle, 25-year-old Millcreek resident Christian J. Simpson, was arraigned by Mikielski on a felony count of possession with intent to deliver and misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Simpson remained in prison on $20,000 bond Tuesday.

“This is an example of excellent police work on the part of both officers,” Kabasinski said.