Alva Review-Courier -

A traffic stop for speeding resulted in the arrest of two brothers on marijuana possession. According to court records, on May 19 about 9:40 p.m. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Darrin Lancaster was sitting in his vehicle along U.S. Highway 64 about two miles west of Ingersoll. His radar showed a pickup going 74 mph in a 65 mph zone so he initiated a traffic stop of the 2014 Ford F150 King Ranch.

The pickup was occupied by two men with three dogs in the backseat. The driver, identified as Jake Tyler Circle, provided an Oklahoma driver’s license and an expired insurance verification form. Trooper Lancaster observed an odor of marijuana coming from within the vehicle. The driver said they were coming from the family farm in Kansas and heading to Tulsa.

Lancaster had Circle accompany him back to his patrol vehicle to check the driver’s license. It was reported to be suspended. Circle said he didn’t know why his license was under suspension. Lancaster observed a strong odor of marijuana coming from Circle while sitting in the patrol car.

Lancaster contacted Alfalfa County Deputy T.J. Rockenbach to come to his location for assistance. Lancaster asked Circle about the odor of marijuana. He said he had not smoked marijuana and that there was none in the vehicle that he knew of. Lancaster asked if his brother, the passenger in the pickup, had smoke marijuana. Circle said he had smoked marijuana earlier that morning. Lancaster asked if his brother had any marijuana in the vehicle, and Circle said not that he knew of.

Rockenbach arrived on the scene with Woods County Deputy Chase Bouziden who was riding with him. Lancaster patted Jake Circle down and had Bouziden watch him while he talked to the passenger, Ryan James Circle who said he did not have any marijuana on him or in the vehicle. Lancaster had him secure the dogs.

While securing the dogs, Ryan asked if Jake had given consent to search. Lancaster explained consent was not required because of the strong odor of marijuana. Ryan said, “I can’t tell you anything. I’m from Colorado so I’ve had marijuana in the vehicle before.”

Lancaster found rolling papers in the passenger door compartment. Rockenbach found a marijuana cigarette in the driver’s door. Lancaster found two e-cigarettes in the middle console, both containing a substance appearing to be marijuana extract or “dab.”

Rockenbach suggested the bags in the vehicle be placed outside. The three dogs were placed back in the pickup. Rockenbach had his K9 partner “Joshi” sniff the bags and told Lancaster to check the big black duffle. Inside was a white cardboard box with vacuum sealed bags containing a green leafy substance appearing to be marijuana buds. Lancaster placed both Ryan and Jake under arrest and read them their Miranda Rights. Lancaster had Rockenbach contact Cherokee Police Officer Billy Irwin to help transport the men to Alfalfa County Jail. He contacted OHP Troop J Headquarters for a wrecker.

Lancaster asked Rockenbach to look through the gray suitcase, and Rockenbach found a red bag containing marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He then went through the black suitcase, finding two glass containers containing marijuana extract. Rockenbach contacted a vet clinic to house the three dogs.

Jake Tyler Circle, 24, of Jenks has been charged with two felony counts: (1) unlawful possession of controlled dangerous drug with intent to distribute and (2) maintaining place for keeping/selling controlled substance. The first count is punishable by a fine of up to $20,000 or imprisonment for two years to life or both such fine and imprisonment. The second is punishable by a fine not more than $10,000 and/or county jail imprisonment not more than five years and costs.

Jake Circle is also charged with four misdemeanors: (1) possession of controlled dangerous substance, (2) unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, (3) driving with license suspended and (4) possession of CDS without tax stamp affixed.

Ryan James Circle, 26, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been charged with three misdemeanors: (1) possession of controlled dangerous substance, (2) unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and (3) possession of CDS without tax stamp affixed.