VALDOSTA, Ga. – On January 21, 2020, at approximately 4:30 a.m., a K-9 officer with Valdosta Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the 1600 block of East Park Avenue.

The driver, later identified as Frank McDonald, 28, of Valdosta, ran on foot from the vehicle.

After a short foot chase, McDonald was apprehended.

The K-9 was deployed to search the area for evidence that McDonald discarded when he ran, according to a VPD report. The K-9 located the backpack McDonald disposed of while running, and two handguns. The backpack contained marijuana, cocaine, MDMA (a/k/a Ecstasy), and Alprazolam (Xanax).

The street value of the narcotics was approximately $4,800. One of the handguns recovered had been reported stolen out of Valdosta in 2015. McDonald was transported to Lowndes County Jail on the following charges:

• Obstruction of a law enforcement officer – misdemeanor;

• Theft by receiving stolen property – felony;

• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime – felony;

• Possession with intent to distribute MDMA Ecstasy – felony;

• Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute – felony;

 • Possession of a Controlled substance with Intent to distribute – felony;

 • Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute – felony; and

  • Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon – felony.

“This officer and his K-9 partner did a great job in tracking down this offender and locating all the contraband,” stated Lt. Scottie Johns in the VPD report. “Our officers were able to not only get a substantial amount of dangerous narcotics off of the street but also two handguns.”