Crime & Safety
Cell Phone Traffic Stop Leads to Major Marijuana Bust
A man with addresses in both Alameda and San Leandro was arrested on a variety of drug charges.
Alameda police headquarters is awash in marijuana today (Wednesday) following a traffic stop and search that ultimately led to the confiscation of $40,000 and 22 pounds of pot, an Alameda Police Department spokesperson said.
When APD Officer Cameron Miele stopped a driver in the 800 block of Marina Village Parkway at 2:12 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, he expected only to write a citation for a cell phone violation, Lt. Jill Ottaviano said.
As Miele contacted the driver, though, he smelled marijuana, she said. A search of the vehicle turned up two pounds of marijuana and a large amount of cash, she said.
The story doesn't end there. After the driver, Hai Uyu Zhang, 38, was taken into custody, Alameda police obtained search warrants. Then they sent teams — including APD K9 handler Brian Foster and his dog — to Zhang's addresses in Alameda and San Leandro, Ottaviano said.
The searches yielded 22 pounds of marijuana and $40,000 in cash that is being held as evidence in the case, she said.
Zhang was arrested on suspicion of various drug violations, Ottaviano said.
She said Zhang identifies himself as a San Leandro resident, although he also has an address in Alameda.
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