Police searched woman’s truck over marijuana smell. What was inside impacts dozens across metro

Yahoo! News - Apr 2nd, 2025
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In a recent incident in metro Atlanta, police stopped a vehicle driven by LaShawn Crumble for a brake light violation and discovered dozens of stolen packages inside. The packages, addressed to various locations including Lawrenceville, Decatur, Marietta, and Kennesaw, were found after officers detected the smell of marijuana from the car. Crumble, a contract delivery driver for OnTrac, claimed that the company permitted 'dumpster diving' for lost or damaged packages, a statement that OnTrac disputes. She now faces multiple criminal charges.

This development highlights the importance of monitoring package deliveries, as police are working to identify and contact the victims involved. The case raises concerns about the security measures employed by delivery companies and the potential for exploitation by individuals. As investigators continue to sift through a substantial list of potential victims, the story underscores the need for transparency and accountability in delivery services to protect consumers from similar incidents.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.4
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The news story provides a factual and generally accurate account of an incident involving a traffic stop and the discovery of stolen packages. It benefits from credible sources like police statements and attempts to include a denial from OnTrac, which adds a degree of balance. However, the article could improve by including perspectives from LaShawn Crumble or her legal representation and providing more detailed verification of specific claims. The story is timely and addresses a public interest issue, but its impact and engagement potential are limited by the lack of diverse perspectives and in-depth analysis. Overall, the article is clear and readable, but it could benefit from additional context and verification to enhance its credibility and balance.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story provides a factual account of an incident involving a traffic stop and the discovery of stolen packages. It accurately reports the police's rationale for stopping the vehicle due to a brake light violation and the subsequent detection of a marijuana odor, leading to a search. However, the story could benefit from more precise verification of certain claims, such as the exact number of stolen packages and confirmation of LaShawn Crumble's employment status with OnTrac. The claim regarding OnTrac's policy on handling packages is presented alongside a denial from the company, which adds to the story's accuracy by showing both sides. Overall, the facts presented are generally supported by quotes from police officials, but further verification of specific details would enhance the story's credibility.

6
Balance

The story primarily presents the perspective of law enforcement, with quotes from a police department representative. It briefly includes a denial from OnTrac regarding their package handling policy, which provides some balance. However, the article lacks input from LaShawn Crumble or her legal representation, which could provide additional context or counterarguments to the police narrative. Including perspectives from the victims of the stolen packages or further statements from OnTrac would also contribute to a more balanced portrayal.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear, using straightforward language to describe the events. The structure is logical, beginning with the traffic stop and progressing to the discovery of stolen packages and subsequent actions. However, the story could improve clarity by providing more context on certain aspects, such as the legal basis for searching the vehicle based on the smell of marijuana and a more detailed explanation of the charges against Crumble.

7
Source quality

The article relies on credible sources such as the Kennesaw Police Department and a police representative, David Buchanan, which adds to its reliability. The story also references OnTrac, the delivery company involved, though it does not provide a direct quote from the company, which could strengthen the source quality. The absence of direct quotes from LaShawn Crumble or her legal team limits the diversity of sources, which could enhance the story's depth and reliability.

5
Transparency

The article provides some transparency by quoting a police representative and mentioning an attempt to contact OnTrac for further information. However, it lacks detailed explanation regarding the methodology of the investigation or how the police identified and contacted potential victims. The story does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may affect the impartiality of the reporting, which is a positive aspect.

Sources

  1. https://www.techdirt.com/2024/10/10/court-reminds-cops-that-smelling-decriminalized-weed-aint-the-probable-cause-it-used-to-be/
  2. https://thegeorgiasun.com/crime/delivery-driver-arrested-with-50-stolen-packages-in-kennesaw/
  3. https://thegeorgiagazette.com/cobb/lashawn-crumble-2/
  4. https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/cobb-county/police-pulled-over-womans-truck-marijuana-smell-what-was-inside-impacts-dozens-across-metro/SHNDYYND7FDXPBDSU3OA3FZ6EI/
  5. https://www.wsbradio.com/news/local/delivery-driver-arrested-after-dozens-stolen-packages-found-car/KQCUMWNH7BGDBLSNPESGS2KPPE/