Man pleads not guilty to drug, weapon charges

8/3/2001

FREMONT - An Ashtabula, Ohio, man pleaded not guilty yesterday to drug and weapon charges in Fremont Municipal Court.

Bond was set at $20,000 for Jackie Whitfield, 31, who was arrested Tuesday by Fremont police. Officers responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle at a gas station on East State Street pulled over Mr. Whitfield's car nearby and searched it.

The officers found six plastic bags of marijuana, containing over 1,000 grams each, plus 6.3 grams of crack cocaine and a loaded 9-mm handgun.

Mr. Whitfield is charged with marijuana trafficking, possession of crack cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and having a weapon while under disability.