Pair arrested with marijuana, guns at roadblock on 16 East

A Tuscaloosa man and woman were arrested last week after “an abundance of marijuana” and stolen guns were found in their vehicle at a roadblock on Highway 16 East.

The man, Destin Lashawn Knight, 32, 1821 17th Avenue, Tuscaloosa, was arrested and charged with four counts of felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of possession of a stolen firearm, and one count of possession of marijuana in a vehicle, according to Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark.

His passenger, Jasmine Mo’Nae Stewart, 32, 3500 3rd Avenue, Tuscaloosa, was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of a stolen firearm and possession of marijuana in a vehicle, Clark said.

Deputies encountered the pair at the intersection of Highway 16 East and Road 743 on May 11 at about 5:45 p.m. The black Ford Expedition driven by Knight approached the checkpoint headed east.

Clark said the checkpoint was run by Neshoba County Sheriff’s deputies and Mississippi Highway Patrol troopers.

Officers reported the strong smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Clark said the duo produced a cigarillo containing marijuana and consented to a search of the vehicle.

Deputies found a pistol on the floorboard behind the passenger seat. A search of Stewart’s purse found another handgun, and a further search of the vehicle found two more handguns. A search of a small purple backpack in the vehicle found what Clark called “an abundance of marijuana” in a jar.

In all, Clark said deputies found two Glock-style handguns, an AR-15-style platform that had been modified into a pistol and a .22 caliber pistol.

Clark said the AR-15 style weapon was reported stolen by Tuscaloosa police in 2022, and the .22 pistol was reported stolen out of Tuscaloosa in 2018.

Further investigation revealed Knight has had numerous run-ins with law enforcement in Tuscaloosa, including a conviction in August of 2021 for possession with intent to distribute pills. Clark said at the time he was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison, but was not sure why he was out of prison and in Neshoba County.

Clark said he has communicated with law enforcement in Tuscaloosa about the two suspects and the stolen weapons, but had not heard back from them by Tuesday morning.