Deputies arrest man accused of drug, weapon crimes

An early morning traffic stop in Boone County led deputies to arrest a Columbia man for drug and weapon offenses Friday.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Department said it happened just after 12:30 a.m., when they performed a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Oscar Ashford.

“While speaking to Ashford, the deputy developed reason to believe that a controlled substance existed inside the vehicle,” said Sgt. Nikki Antimi. “A subsequent search of the vehicle led the deputy to locate a significant amount of marijuana and a handgun.”

Antimi said the drugs were packaged in a way that is typical when they are being sold.

The department said Ashford is a convicted felon and is therefore not allowed to have a gun.

Ashford was arrested on suspicion of distributing a controlled substance, unlawfully possessing a firearm and unlawfully using a weapon while in possession of a controlled substance.

Ashford was booked into the Boone County Jail with combined bond amounts of more than $12,000.