3 CALIFORNIANS ARRESTED IN 6TH PIKE DRUG BUST

The recent string of large weekly drug arrests on the Ohio Turnpike
shows no signs of stopping.

Two men and a woman from California were arraigned on felony drug
charges in Maumee Municipal Court yesterday in connection with a pair
of traffic stops on the Ohio Turnpike Monday. Troopers seized cocaine
worth an estimated $600,000.

The suspects, each charged with aggravated drug trafficking and drug
abuse, are Agnew Scott, 78, of Los Angeles; Keshia Rivers, 25, of
Inglewood, and Bobby Joe Haywood, 24, of Torrance.

They are being held in the Lucas County jail in lieu of $100,000 cash
bond each.

It was the patrol's sixth significant seizure of drugs or drug money
on the turnpike since December.

The latest arrests were made after troopers from the Findlay post
pulled over the suspects' two rental cars for traffic violations on
the eastbound turnpike, about two miles west of Reynolds Road.

One stopped a 2002 Buick Park Avenue driven by Mr. Scott and carrying
Ms. Rivers for a lane-change violation shortly after noon.

About the same time, less than a mile behind, a trooper stopped a 2002
Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Mr. Haywood for following another
vehicle too closely.

A drug dog alerted the first trooper to something suspicious in the
Buick. A search of the vehicle revealed a large speaker box in the
trunk containing six one-kilogram bricks of cocaine.

A search of Mr. Haywood found 20 grams of marijuana in his shoe. The
troopers' investigation established that the occupants of the two cars
were connected, Lieutenant Lewis said.