Calif. man jailed in Hwy. 395 traffic stop-pot bust

A California man was arrested Friday afternoon during an Oregon State Police traffic stop north of Lakeview when a trooper found about 20 pounds of marijuana in a suitcase in his SUV, troopers said.

Around 2:15 p.m., an OSP senior trooper stopped a Ford Expedition displaying Minnesota license plates for failure to maintain a lane of travel on Highway 395 at the Highway 140E junction.

The driver was identified during the stop as Nicholas K. Simmons, 23, of Forest Ranch, California.

A subsequent investigation during the traffic stop led the trooper to discover about 20 pounds of marijuana in suitcases inside the vehicle. Estimated value of the seized marijuana is $50,000, troopers said.

Simmons was taken into custody and lodged in the Lake County Jail on charges of drug possession, distribution and manufacture.

OSP was assisted during the traffic stop by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Lakeview Police Department.