After stopping a motorist who had failed to drive to the right, early on the morning of Friday, December 23, police investigated and discovered nearly 1½ pounds of marijuana hidden inside the vehicle, marking the largest local marijuana seizure by police while on routine patrol in memory.

Police said they charged Chad Davis, 20, of Portland, Ore., who was a passenger in the vehicle, with possession of a controlled substance, illegal sale of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia by a nonstudent in a school zone.

Police Sergeant Aaron Bahamonde said that Officer Charles Guernsey, while on patrol near the Main Street flagpole, observed a 2004 Subaru being driven unusually, after which he followed it for about three miles southward on Main Street and then South Main Street, eventually stopping it at about 1:18 am near 182 South Main Street to investigate after he observed that the driver had failed to keep to the right.

The motor vehicle stop occurred on the section of South Main Street between its intersections with Huntingtown Road and the southern end of Pecks Lane, near Fraser Woods Montessori School, a private school, resulting in the school-related charge.

Police said that while speaking to the two occupants of the Subaru, they detected the strong odor of marijuana coming from the auto.

Davis admitted to having a small amount of marijuana, which was then removed from the vehicle, but the odor persisted, after which police searched the Subaru and found 21.4 ounces of marijuana hidden inside, police said.

Police also seized about $5,000 in cash, Sgt Bahamonde said. Police estimate the street sale value of the marijuana at roughly $6,500.

Sgt Bahamonde said the incident marks the largest local marijuana seizure by a police officer on routine patrol in memory.

The sergeant credited Ofc Guernsey with excellent police work in detecting the suspicious vehicle and then apprehending Davis. The Subaru's driver was not charged, the sergeant said.

After arrest processing, police released Davis on $2,500 bail for a January 10 arraignment on the charges in state Superior Court in Danbury.