Firearm, drugs found during routine traffic stop in Scott County

Thursday, April 20, 2017
Tiwan Paige

BENTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston man faces multiple felony charges following a traffic stop in Scott County.

Tiwan Tite Paige, 29, of Sikeston is charged with felony unlawful possession of a firearm; two counts of possession of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana/synthetic cannabinoid; and the misdemeanor of operating a vehicle on highway without a valid license, second offense, according to online court records.

At 9:17 p.m. March 31, detective Sgt. Garrett Cook with the Scott County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop on State Highway 77 on a vehicle with an Illinois license plate for failing to maintain a single lane, according to the probable cause statement by Cook. Cook said he made contact with the driver, who was Paige, and while speaking with him, noticed a green, leafy substance on the passenger seat next to the passenger's leg. He said he also saw cigars partially visible from under the passenger's left leg.

After seeing this, Cook said he asked Paige to step out of the vehicle and if there was anymore marijuana in the car. Paige said his "old lady" had 10 grams of marijuana. When Cook asked if anything else was in the vehicle, Paige said a gun was under the driver's seat.

Cook said in his statement he then went back to the car and asked the passenger about the marijuana; she handed him an empty cigar with a green, leafy substance inside. He also located a .380 semi-automatic, loaded pistol. Also located was a clear plastic bag with a blueish green pill inside and later identified by Paige as ecstasy. Another clear bag with a green, leafy substance identified as marijuana was also located. Paige did not have an operator's license through the state of Missouri during the time of the stop.

A warrant for Paige's arrest was issued Monday, and he was arrested and taken to the Scott County Jail in Benton. Bond was set at $50,000 cash or surety, and he remained in jail as of Wednesday.

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