REAL POLICE BODYCAM footage captures the critical first moments of a routine traffic stop that would eventually lead to a major drug trafficking arrest in La Crosse. This bodycam video documents how the initial detection of marijuana odor created the legal basis for a vehicle search that would ultimately uncover substantial quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine. In this police bodycam footage, an officer directly confronts the driver about suspicious odors from the vehicle: "I want you to be honest with me, okay? 'Cause I, I can smell marijuana. Did you guys smoke in here? Did you guys smoke in here or do you have marijuana in here? Because I can smell it." This straightforward questioning, captured on the bodycam at timestamp 05:52, establishes both the officer's observations and the opportunity for voluntary disclosure. The driver offers a partial explanation: "I, yeah, I had, um, a friend in here." When the officer asks for identification—"Okay. Who's that?"—the response is vague: "Yeah, I'm names, sorry." The officer then clearly states the legal grounds for escalating the stop: "Okay. Well, because I can smell it, okay, we're gonna search the car." The driver appears to accept this with "Go ahead," prompting the officer to extend the search: "I'm gonna search you as well, okay?" When asked "You have anything on you?" the driver claims "No, I was just searched," referencing a prior interaction: "By that guy? Yep." The officer acknowledges this but explains his professional obligation: "Okay. Um- So, I Go ahead. I- I l- just because it's my job, obviously I, I can smell it, so I'm not..." The driver emphasizes: "Check my pockets. Uh, he just searched you? Yeah. He just searched me. Cody did? So, yep. Okay." The driver then grants broader consent: "You can go in my vehicle. I just walked over-" The officer acknowledges: "Okay, that's fine. If you wanna just sit back over here." Suddenly, the driver discloses: "I do have a Swisher in here." When the officer seeks clarification—"A s- a what?"—she specifies: "A Swisher in my purse." The officer inquires about potential contents: "Does it- There's nothing in contain marijuana?" After receiving denial—"Nope"—he reiterates the legal basis for the search: "Okay. Like I said, just because of the odor of marijuana, you admitted somebody had smoked in there earlier, from 10:00- Mm-hmm. until 3:00." According to police reports, this February 3, 2023 traffic stop would ultimately connect to a larger drug trafficking investigation involving 43-year-old Drae Shaun Broadnax. When officers later conducted a high-risk stop based on informant information, Broadnax fled in his vehicle before abandoning it with a female passenger still inside. A subsequent search revealed 56.4 grams of methamphetamine, 7.5 grams of cocaine, 5.3 grams of marijuana, and substantial cash. This police bodycam footage highlights how routine traffic stops based on observable indicators like marijuana odor can provide the legal foundation for searches that eventually connect to major drug trafficking operations and substantial evidence seizures. Subscribe for more police bodycam footage showing real-life law enforcement situations. New videos uploaded weekly! #policebodycam #marijuanaodor #vehiclesearch

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