Photo provided by Thomasville Police DepartmentU.S. Postal Service bag contained 27 vials of THC oil concentrate in small, colorful packages.

THOMASVILLE — Had the driver of a vehicle at U.S. 19 and East Jackson Street dimmed his headlights early Saturday morning, he might have avoided a felony drug arrest and seizure of his vehicle and more than $4,000 is cash.

Thomasville Police Department officer Zack Worsham pulled the car over and detected the odor of marijuana.

A search of the car produced a bag of green, leafy substance on the passenger side floor, according to reports. A U.S. Postal Service bag containing glass vials in brightly-colored packages was found in a backpack on the passenger seat, an incident report states.

The vials were labeled as containing a concentration of 83 percent to 87 percent distilled THC oil concentrate, according to the report.

The driver, Markese Spencer, claimed ownership of the contraband.

THC is the compound in marijuana that provides the high sensation.

A shoe box found in the trunk contained $4,436. The report shows Markese Spencer’s brother, Christopher Spencer, claimed ownership of the money until he learned it would be seized.

Also seized was Markese Spencer’s 2014 Nissan Maxima.

The money and THC oil concentrate were turned over to Louis Schofill, Thomas Count/Thomasville Narcotics/Vice Division commander.

Schofill said the drug squad is attempting to determine the origin of the vials. 

“It is an open investigation,” he said.

Markese Spencer, 28, 115 Feinberg St., is charged with possession of a Schedule 1 drug with intent to distribute, possession of a drug-related object and failure to dim headlights.

Passengers Christoper Spencer, 26, 115 Feinberg, and Shirmara Prescott, 25, 96 Ben Grady Collins Road, Statesboro, were charged with open container violation.

“This was excellent police work by (officer) Worsham,” said Police Chief Troy Rich. “This is just one of many drug arrests our department has made this year. In 2019, we have made 128 drug arrests, in which 38 were felonies turned over to the drug squad for prosecution.”

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