Two pounds seized in marijuana bust

PANAMA CITY -- Police seized almost two pounds of marijuana, a semi-automatic weapon and cash during a security sweep of a local apartment complex.

Investigators with the Street Crimes Unit of the Panama City Police Department were conducting a security check of the Royal Arms Garden Apartments, 1420 Balboa Ave., when they saw Jorge Chacon, of Panama City, and an unidentified female passenger sitting in a parked car.

Police initiated contact with the two, and investigators said a strong odor of marijuana was coming from the vehicle.

Chacon and the female were detained while police searched the vehicle. Police found a bag containing nearly two pounds of marijuana, packaging materials, a scale and $1,100 in the search. Under the passenger seat, investigators also located a semi-automatic weapon with its magazine under the driver’s seat. Police seized the marijuana, drug paraphernalia, weapon and cash.

Chacon was taken to the Bay County Jail on charges of felony possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a firearm while in commission of a felony, felon in possession of a firearm and keeping a nuisance drug vehicle.