Two Arrested For Marijuana At Drug Offender Education Class

LIBERTY, December 22, 2009 - Liberty Police made a unique arrest at the Liberty County Juvenile Probation office on Friday evening, December 18, 2009. A drug offender education class was being held at Juvenile Probation, and one of the probation officers suspected two of her attendees were “high” on marijuana. The probation officer contacted the PD for assistance.

LPD officers Josh Cummins and Jeanne Marie Birdwell were dispatched to the scene and they met with Kelly Semien, a juvenile probation officer. Semien stated she had observed two class attendees smoking in a truck parked outside. She also smelled marijuana coming from the truck. Semien had the two come inside the building so she could contact the police.

Officer Jeanne Marie Birdwell searched the area around the truck and found what was left of a hand-rolled cigarette that appeared to be marijuana, on the ground by the truck. She conferred with Officer Cummins, who was questioning the driver of the truck, Lacy Cooling Jr., 17, of Dayton. Officer Cummins obtained a signed “consent to search” from Cooling. It was during the search of the truck that Officer Cummins found a small plastic bag that contained what appeared to be marijuana, in the glove box. Cummins also noted several partially smoked, hand-rolled cigars in the ash tray that appeared to contain marijuana.

While Officer Cummins was collecting the suspected evidence, probation officer Semien brought the other occupant of the truck, Brian Bellard, 17, of Dayton, outside to speak with the officers. In speaking to Bellard, the officers determined that he had knowledge of the suspected marijuana in the truck. They were also able to determine that some of it was his.

Lacy Cooling Jr. and Brian Bellard were arrested at the scene. They were booked-in to the Liberty County Jail for the offense of Possession of Marijuana (less than 2 ounces). Cooling’s bond was set at $1500, while Bellard’s was set at $1000. Both have since posted their respective bonds and were released pending their court dates.