150 pounds of pot, $40K found in Polk County after Florida trooper stops fleeing driver

POLK COUNTY, Fla. - A Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper made quite the large discovery after they were able to stop a fleeing driver on Tuesday in Polk County.

What happened?

What we know:

On Tuesday, Aug. 5, an FHP trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop after the driver of a GMC truck had his tag covered and passed him wearing no seat belt.

The trooper said the driver then fled on westbound Interstate 4, reaching speeds of up to 110 mph in a 65 mph zone while weaving in and out of traffic. The driver then allegedly intentionally struck the trooper's car. The official then used a PIT maneuver to make the successful stop.

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Once the driver was stopped, the trooper was astonished at what they discovered in the car: 150 pounds of marijuana and $40,000. Jewelry and casino chips were also recovered from the car. 

Authorities with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shared a photo on Facebook showing bags of pot piled up on the hood of two FHP cruisers. Officials say 25 bags were recovered from each of the six boxes they found. 

(Credit: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles)

The driver of the car was later identified as 38-year-old Jimmie Flournoy. 

Flourney was taken to the Polk County Jail, where he is being held without bond.

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Flourney is facing myriad charges, including reckless driving, resisting an officer with violence, marijuana posession with intent to sell and aggravated fleeing with injury or damage. 

‘Protect our communities’

What they're saying:

"This incident underscores the dangers troopers face every day to protect our communities and keep our roads safe," the post on Facebook reads.