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An Atmore man was arrested Dec. 20 on possession of drug charges, according to officials.

Atmore Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Darrell McMann said in a release that Willie Banks, 22, of Atmore, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana II and possession of drug paraphernalia.

McMann said at approximately 11:40 p.m. on the day of the arrest, an APD officer conducted a traffic stop on Martin Luther King Avenue in reference to the vehicle’s taillights not being illuminated.

“As the vehicle came to a stop, on Bragg Street the front seat passenger ran from the vehicle,” McMann said, adding that the officer contacted the driver, Banks. “During the interaction with Banks, the officer discovered over four dozen grams of marijuana, several grams of synthetic cannabis (spice), a digital scale and items used to package narcotics.”

Banks was then transported to the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.

McMann said investigators are working to learn the identity of passenger who fled from the vehicle.