K-9 Youp of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) played a key role in a recent traffic stop that led to the discovery of various illegal substances and firearms. During the incident on June 19 in west Beaumont, deputies pulled over a blue Dodge truck driven by 48-year-old Jeffry Todd Blackburn for multiple traffic violations. Accompanying him was 61-year-old Michael Wayne Stites from Oklahoma.
Upon interacting with the two men, deputies called in K-9 Youp to conduct an open air sniff search of the vehicle. The canine indicated the presence of narcotics inside the truck. A subsequent search uncovered 3.7 ounces of suspected methamphetamine, 2.8 ounces of marijuana, and 4 grams of suspected crack cocaine.
In addition to the drugs, deputies recovered 12 firearms and $6,473 in cash, which they believe was linked to the sale of the illegal substances. The firearms were registered to Blackburn, who has a previous felony conviction related to drug offenses. Both individuals were arrested and taken to the Jefferson County Correctional Facility.
Blackburn faces multiple charges, including two counts of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Stites is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance. The incident highlights ongoing issues related to drug enforcement and the potential dangers posed by individuals possessing firearms alongside illegal drugs.
German 
English 
Spanish 
Czech