BRIEF: POTTER WANTS $45,000 SEIZED IN TRAFFIC STOP

Potter County authorities filed a motion last week to seize $45,000
recovered from an Interstate 40 traffic stop earlier this month.

The motion claims the money is proceeds gained from commission of a felony
and should be forfeited.

According to court records:

On April 5, an agent from the Panhandle Regional Narcotics Trafficking Task
Force pulled over a 1999 Cadillac west of Amarillo after he noticed the
driver was not wearing a seat belt.

The officer approached the vehicle and noticed a strong odor of air
freshener from inside the car. He asked the driver if there was anything
illegal in the car, and the female driver said there was not.

The agent then asked to search the car and the driver agreed to the search.
During the search, the agent discovered various amounts of marijuana and
found bundles of cash hidden inside the vehicle. The driver and two
passengers said the money did not belong to them. No arrests were reported
linked to the stop.