Man arrested with pot-filled presents

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A Springdale, Wash., man was arrested in Idaho for drug trafficking after police found him with 3.3 pounds of marijuana hidden in Christmas gifts.

Jason D. Palmer, 36, was pulled over Dec. 22 for erratic driving in Kootenai County, Idaho, on his way home from visiting family in Montana, the Coeur d'Alene (Idaho) Press reported.

Two of Palmer's four children were in the car at the time.

During the traffic stop, a sheriff's deputy searched Palmer's car because they could smell marijuana outside of the car.

"When I made contact at the window, the odor increased its potency," the deputy wrote in his report.

Palmer was asked to get out of the vehicle. He told police he is a medical marijuana card holder and there was a small amount of "medicine" in the vehicle.

The deputy wrote, "I asked him what was in the presents and he stated some 'sweaters.'"

A K-9 unit was called to the scene and the dog went straight for the presents, which were then unwrapped to find the drugs.

Palmer was charged with felony drug trafficking of marijuana. Palmers' two sons, ages 12 and 14, were charged with frequenting, as the deputies believed the boys knew the marijuana was in the car.