More than 170 grams of ecstasy discovered during a road check in Palestine

PALESTINE, Texas (KETK) – A traffic stop led to the arrest of a Palestinian man after police seized suspected cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana.

According to a release, a Palestine Police Department officer stopped a vehicle around 7:18 a.m. near the 1100 block of N. Queen Street for a traffic violation.

The police officer reportedly detected “a strong odor of marijuana” coming from the vehicle upon contact with the driver. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Charles Edward Hawkins, a 34-year-old Palestinian, according to a statement.

3.51 grams of suspected cocaine, 172.96 grams of ecstasy and a small quantity of marijuana were allegedly found by the officer after searching the vehicle.

Hawkins was charged with possession of marijuana and two counts of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. He was booked into the Anderson County Jail on bail totaling $42,500.