While working Hire-back on State Road 8 in the Florida Panhandle, Trooper B.A. Eldridge conducted a traffic stop on the driver of a 1997 Chevy for an equipment violation. The driver stopped his vehicle, but fled on foot carrying with him a brown paper bag. When looking inside the vehicle, Trooper Eldridge spotted a box of marijuana plants in the back seat. He called for a K-9 team to track down the suspect and find the brown paper bag. The team soon located the bag, which contained approximately 441 grams of cocaine and 230 grams of marijuana. Unfortunately, the suspect was not found. He had been seen by witnesses being picked up by another motorist just north of the traffic stop location. The case is still open, and criminal charges are forthcoming. The street value of the seized drugs is approximately $17,000. Congratulations to Troop A troopers who removed dangerous drugs from our roads in the Panhandle area.