Sheriff's Office: Mother had unrestrained children, 'large quantity' of marijuana in car

A mother was arrested Saturday after deputies investigating another call smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from a car that passed them with children inside.

Deputies were dispatched to Bonaire Circle in Shell Point for another investigation around 4:20 p.m. when a blue Ford Fiesta drove by with an "overwhelming" marijuana odor, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office report.

The vehicle was stopped and deputies found the female driver and a male passenger in the front, and two children who were not properly restrained in the back, the report said.

Deputies said they saw a jar with a small amount of suspected marijuana in one of the vehicle's cup holders and asked the adults to get out of the car.

Another larger amount of marijuana was found under the driver's seat, the report said. An electronic scale was found nearby.

As they were being questioned, the male passenger told the female, "tell them those drugs aren't mine," before he told deputies he had swallowed an unknown amount of marijuana when he was pulled over, the report said.

The woman said the drugs were hers, and that she had "less than an ounce" in the vehicle. She also said she intended to use the drugs herself and not distribute them, the report said.

When deputies weighed the marijuana, it turned out to be 81 grams, the report said.

The woman was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and no child restraints. She was taken to the Beaufort County Detention Center.

Her two children were turned over to a family member, the report said.

This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 12:27 PM with the headline "Sheriff's Office: Mother had unrestrained children, 'large quantity' of marijuana in car."