THOMASVILLE, Ga. — A man released from prison three months ago was traveling near West Jackson Street Friday afternoon when he was stopped by a city police officer for not wearing a seatbelt — and ended up in jail for a number of drug-related offenses.

The driver, Christopher Robinson, 30, 1501 Magnolia St., pulled into a driveway in the 100 bock of Neel Street, where the officer saw him put his hand near his right pocket, according to a report. A strong odor of marijuana came from the vehicle, a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria.

Despite the officer asking the driver to keep his hands where she could see them, the suspect kept putting his hand near his right side, a Thomasville Police Department incident report sated.

Robinson, who was told to get out of the car, refused to show his hands.

The officer drew her duty weapon and aimed it at Robinson, giving him verbal commands to remove his hand from his pocket, the report shows.

Officers found a large bag of marijuana in his pants. With the officer’s firearm aimed at him, another officer drew his taser. Robinson was handcuffed.

When the suspect continued to reach toward his right pocket, the officer did not know if he was reaching for a firearm, Chief Troy Rich said.

“He was concealing the drugs and making a lot of movements with his hands,” Rich added.

Robinson, who was searched, continued to move, and several small bags fell from his crotch area onto the ground. While he was being searched, more bags containing powder cocaine fell to the ground, according to the report.

Officers found crack cocaine and ecstasy pills in the vehicle.

“He ended up having 80 pills of ecstasy, 7.1 grams, which is a lot of ecstasy pills.” said Louis Schofill, Thomas County/Thomasville Narcotics/Vice Division commander.

Another 6.9 grams of ecstasy pills broken into smaller doses were found, Schofill said.

The commander said Robinson was convicted in 2012 of robbery by force, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was released from prison on Jan. 23 after serving six years.

In the drug case, he is charged with possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, cocaine possession with intent to distribute, possession of a drug-related object, possession of a Schedule I drug within 1,000 feet of a park, possession of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a park, misdemeanor marijuana possession and seatbelt violation.

“This was outstanding police work by the officer involved in the traffic stop,” Chief Rich said. 

Robinson was denied bond and remains in the Thomas County Jail.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820