A traffic stop in Kerr County on Interstate 10 near mile marker 485 outside Mountain Home on Tuesday quickly escalated into what authorities are calling a major drug bust. According to the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, deputies with the Criminal Interdiction Unit, working with K9 Castle, recovered about 26.55 pounds of marijuana, roughly 4,000 grams of THC vape cartridges, a loaded handgun and $7,455 in cash during a probable-cause search.
The driver, identified as 22-year-old Kaden Alonzo Jones of San Angelo, was arrested and booked into the Kerr County Jail on multiple felony counts. Bonds in the case total $37,000, and authorities say the vehicle may be subject to seizure because of its alleged use in the drug trade.
How Deputies Say It All Unfolded
As reported by WOAI, investigators first pulled the vehicle over after observing a traffic violation, then developed additional suspicion that criminal activity might be underway. Jones reportedly refused to give consent for a search, so K9 Castle was brought in and later alerted to the presence of narcotics.
That alert led to the probable-cause search that turned up the marijuana, THC vape cartridges, cash and the handgun. Members of the interdiction unit say the sheer quantities involved point to trafficking rather than personal use.
Sheriff Tips Hat To Interdiction Team
Sheriff Larry Leitha praised the interdiction team, calling the stop “the latest in a line of successes delivered by our Interdiction Unit” and thanking both deputies and K9 Castle for their work, per WOAI. He said some traffickers still view interstate and state highways as easy routes for moving shipments and emphasized that his office will continue targeting those corridors.
The comments highlight the sheriff’s focus on highway interdiction as a way to disrupt drug distribution in the Hill Country, particularly along heavily traveled stretches like I-10.
Charges On The Table And What Comes Next
Per the Kerr County Sheriff's Office, Jones was booked on counts that include manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance (PG2 ≥400g), possession of marijuana between 5 and 50 pounds, and unlawful carry of a weapon. Bonds were set at a combined $37,000.
Officials said the vehicle involved may be subject to seizure, and that charges could be added or modified as the case moves forward. Authorities also noted that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and investigators are continuing to process the evidence from the stop.
