LAPLACE – What started as a routine traffic stop for a suspected tint violation resulted in the arrest of three local men this week.

On the evening of Jan. 5 St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop of a car when deputies suspected the window tint was darker than the law allowed.

When the driver exited the car, the deputy smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car. Another deputy saw a passenger throw a plastic bag containing a small amount of marijuana out of the car.

That passenger, who owned the car, was identified as Ronchell Moore, 27, of Summerton Drive in St. Rose.

Deputies also recovered a handgun from under the driver’s seat of the car, which Moore said was his gun.

The driver was identified as Theran Johnson, 27, of Woodland Drive in LaPlace.

Through a local computer check, deputies learned that Theran Johnson and a passenger, Landon Pack, 26, of Creole Street in LaPlace had outstanding warrants. Two other passengers were allowed to leave the scene when it was confirmed they had no outstanding warrants.

Moore was arrested and booked with possession of marijuana,

illegal carrying of a weapon with a controlled dangerous substance and a bench warrant.

Moore bonded out of jail on a $16,665 commercial bond. He has been arrested 26 times in St. John the Baptist Parish since September 2003.

Johnson was arrested and booked with a warrant for issuing a worthless check, two bench warrants, an attachment and as fugitive from another agency. He was also issued a citation for illegal window tint and driving without a driver’s license. Johnson remains in custody in lieu of a $3,815 bond. He has been arrested six times in St. John the Baptist Parish since September 2003.

Pack was arrested and booked as fugitive from St. Charles Parish. He has been arrested three times in St. John the Baptist Parish since July 2010.