STEUBEN CO. – At approximately 1:15 a.m. Monday morning, Toll Road Post Trooper Casey Davis conducted a traffic stop with a 2020 Mercedes SUV for an unsafe lane movement on I-80 near the 140 mm, Steuben County.
The vehicle was occupied by two men who were reported to be traveling from California back to Massachusetts, both alleged to be showing signs of impairment. Davis noted there was a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, as well as there being open alcohol containers.
A probable cause search of the vehicle located a large garbage bag being transported in the spare tire well. That bag contained 10 individual bags of suspected Marijuana, each weighing about one pound.
The driver and passenger were both taken into custody and transported to the Steuben County jail for further investigation.
The passenger, Abdulkarim Mbarushimana, 30, from Worcester, Massachusetts, was arrested on a Level 5 felony charge of dealing marijuana.
After completing a battery of field sobriety tests with the driver, Eric Njoroge Mwangi, 24, from Worcester, Massachusetts, he too was also placed under arrest on charges of dealing marijuana, a Level 5 felony, and three misdemeanor charges related to operating a vehicle while intoxicated and possession of marijuana.
Davis was assisted in his investigation by troopers from the Fort Wayne Post, deputies from the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department, and Bill’s Towing.
