A Marinette County Sheriff’s deputy on routine patrol stopped the vehicle for an equipment violation Jan. 27 on U.S. 141 in Wausaukee, Wisconsin.

Wausaukee is a small village of fewer than 1,000 residents located less than 20 miles from Menominee Township in the U.P.

Officer K9 Vinny was called to the scene after the deputy noticed an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle during the traffic stop. Marijuana is illegal in Wisconsin for both medical and recreational purposes.

The canine officer sniffed out a large package filled with smaller packages that contained cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, MDMA/ecstasy pills, marijuana, heroin and prescription pills. Police seized 129.82 grams of illegal drugs in all, and arrested Preston Bennett, 46, and Dominique Grayson, 38, both of Chicago.

Dominique Grayson

Bennett was charged with seven felonies, including possession with intent to manufacture, distribute or deliver, and maintaining a drug trafficking place, as well as several drug-related misdemeanor charges.

Grayson faces five felony charges of possession with intent to manufacture, distribute or deliver, as well as several misdemeanor charges related to drug possession and resisting or obstructing an officer. She was also charged with felony possession of THC, second or subsequent offense.

Bond was set at $10,000 for each suspect.

Jessica Potila can be reached at 906-228-2500. Her email address is jpotila@miningjournal.net.

Marinette County Sheriff’s Department seized illegal drugs detected by a K9 officer during a traffic stop near the Upper Peninsula border Jan. 27. (Photo courtesy of Marinette County Sheriff’s Department)