Man arrested for obstruction, marijuana possession after traffic stop in Houston County

On March 8 at 2:02 p.m., a member of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling southbound on Interstate 75.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A man was arrested for obstruction of officers in March, according to the Houston County Sheriff’s Office.

On March 8 at 2:02 p.m., a member of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling southbound on Interstate 75.  The vehicle was traveling 63 miles per hour in the left lane and impeding the flow of traffic. 

A deputy made contact with the driver who was later identified as Jalil Lofton. The deputy  explained the reason for the traffic stop. The deputy smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and a second deputy was requested to the scene.

Once the second deputy arrived, Lofton and the rear seat passenger Keywon Mitchell were asked to exit the vehicle. Lofton and Mitchell complied and exited the vehicle.

Deputies made contact with the front seat passenger, Omar Wright, and lawfully requested that he exit the vehicle. The Sheriff’s Office states that Wright refused to comply with the lawful requests of the deputies.

According to the news release, after several attempts to get Wright to exit the vehicle, deputies opened the door and assisted Wright out of the vehicle.

Wright was told that he was under arrest for obstruction of officers. The news release states that Wright tensed up and refused to put his hands behind his back as requested by the deputies.

Deputies tried to gain control of Wright and he was tased. Wright was taken down to the ground where he was handcuffed. During the search of Wright, a “green leafy material” was found on him. 

Wright was charged with two counts of obstruction of officers and possession of marijuana less than one ounce.

Lofton was issued a citation for impeding the flow of traffic and he and Mitchell were released at the scene.

According to the news release, Wright’s mother, Juana Ash, posted on social media that deputies brutally attacked her son. Ash came to the Houston County Sheriff’s Office to file a formal complaint against the deputies. Ash and Wright submitted written statements which documented their accounts of the incident.

Charges of false statements and writings are forthcoming in this case against Wright and Ash.