Traffic stop leads to drug, weapons charges for Magnolia man

MILFORD, Del. – Delaware State Police arrested a Magnolia man on drug and weapons charges following a traffic stop early Monday morning.

At around 1:15 a.m., troopers observed a gray Kia Optima driving southbound on Shawnee Road with a headlight out. A traffic stop was initiated on the vehicle, and contact was made with the driver, 24-year-old Aerza Smith, at which point a strong odor of marijuana was detected coming from inside the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle was then conducted, leading to the recovery of a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun, an empty 9mm 12 round clip, a partially full 30 round 9mm clip, a small box of 9mm ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and approximately 48.66 grams of marijuana.

Smith was arrested as a result of the search, and charged with possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, breach of conditions of bond, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to have insurance identification in possession, and failure to have two headlights.

He was held at SCI on a $52,250 secured bond.