2 arrested after Polk County traffic stop finds marijuana inside diaper bag

POLK COUNTY, Texas (KTRE) - Two people have been arrested after Polk County investigators found several packages of marijuana hidden inside a diaper bag during a traffic stop.

Daijah Brown and Lamondre Harrell, both of Monroe, Louisiana, were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and tampering with physical evidence.

The two were first stopped for a traffic violation on U.S. Highway 59 north in the Leggett area on Dec. 31. As investigators approached, the two could be seen reaching around the backseat in an attempt to hide illegal substances, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office release said.

Investigators smelled marijuana, and Brown admitted she and the driver, Harrell, had both recently smoked in the vehicle, the release said. When asked how much marijuana was in the vehicle, Brown handed over one package and said that was all.

Two children, ages 2 and 5, were also seen in the backseat; neither was in an appropriate safety seat, the release said.

When the pair were asked to get out of the vehicle with the children, Brown tried to take the diaper bag with her. The release said when she was told to leave it behind, she admitted more marijuana was inside.

A search of the bag found five more packages, bringing the recovered total to 3.5 ounces of high-grade marijuana that Harrell said had been bought in Houston, according to the release.

Harrell and Brown were booked into the Polk County Jail, and the children were transferred to another family member.

“This case highlights the very real dangers that come with transporting illegal drugs, especially when children are involved,” the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Our deputies and investigators are committed to enforcing the law while ensuring the safety and welfare of innocent children caught in these situations.”