What started with a disabled car has ended in indictments for several Columbus men.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Tranez Minnifield, 21, Kenyetta Glass, 32, and Todd Hicks, 19, all of Columbus.
According to court documents, about 4:10 a.m., March 31, 2018, the three men were passengers in a Dodge Charger that had broken down along U.S. 33. Trooper Jose Flores of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, pulled over to help the vehicle.
“As I approached the passenger side of the vehicle I observed the front right seat passenger concealing his hands underneath of his seat,” Flores wrote in a statement to the court. “For my safety I opened the passenger side door and instantly smelled the odor of burnt marijuana corning from the inside of the vehicle. I immediately informed the occupants to keep their hands in plain sight.”
The driver, Shaquala D. Stiggers, told the trooper that she did not have a driver’s license. Stiggers allegedly failed a series of field sobriety tests. She said she was not drunk but had smoked earlier in the morning.
Stiggers, Glass, Minnifield and Hicks were all patted down for weapons. Flores and another trooper began to search the vehicle. According to court documents, as part of the search, the troopers found a loaded revolver under passenger seat and another loaded firearm under the driver’s seat. In addition to the weapons, investigators allegedly found four clear bags, “filled with a controlled substance on the driver’s side inside of a multi-colored bag.”
Everyone in the car was asked about the guns and each initially said they didn’t know anything about them. Stiggers did say the bag was hers, but Glass had made her put the drugs in it. Glass denied that. According to court documents, both cocaine and oxycodone were found in the car.
According to court documents, while he was inside a police cruiser, Glass can be heard talking on the phone to one of the other passengers. Glass tells them to get one of the guns. He can be heard later telling one of the other passengers to claim one of the guns for him.
Minnifield is charged with one count each of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, carrying a concealed weapon and having weapons under disability. In addition to not being allowed to have a loaded gun in a car, Minnifield is prohibited from having a handgun because of a 2015 conviction for possession of cocaine in Franklin County. If convicted on all charges, Minnifield could face as many as eight years in prison.
Glass is charged with one count each of possession of cocaine, aggravated possession of drugs, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, carrying a concealed weapon and having weapons under disability. Glass is prohibited from owning or having a gun based on convictions for robbery and aggravated robbery. Glass could face as many as 23 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Hicks is charged with one count each of possession of cocaine, aggravated possession of drugs, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and carrying a concealed weapon. If convicted on all counts, Hicks could face as many as 18 years in prison.