MURFREESBORO – Local police officer Scott Jager left this world all too soon, but his namesake still enforces the law.

Jager, a member of the Murfreesboro Police Department, succumbed to cancer in 2003. Later, MPD added a highly trained police dog to its squad, naming him “Jager” in honor of Scott.

On Monday, “Jager” was involved in the search of a vehicle where drugs were discovered.

Murfreesboro Police Chief Darrell Rowe reported that 19-year-old Ranel M. Bailey of Holly Hill Road was arrested and charged with two felonies and one misdemeanor after marijuana was found in his vehicle.

Rowe said MPD Sgt. David Griffith performed a stop of a vehicle on Main Street for a traffic violation. As is routine with a traffic stop, Griffith deployed “Jager” and the K-9 officer alerted his human partner to the presence of narcotics.

A search of the vehicle conducted by Griffith turned-up seven, individually wrapped bags of marijuana. That led to charges filed against Bailey for possession with intent to sell and deliver narcotics, and maintaining a vehicle to store narcotics, both felonies. Bailey was also charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and was detained under a $1,000 bond.

Rowe said Bailey cooperated with the search of his vehicle and was arrested without incident.

“This proves that what would appear to be a routine traffic stop was anything but routine,” said Rowe. “That’s why our officers are always prepared for the unexpected. Sgt. Griffith and K-9 Jager are to be commended for the professional way they conducted a vehicle stop and the ensuing search of the vehicle.”

As to the “Jager” (past and present) element of this story, Rowe said the legacy of an outstanding officer lives on despite the passage of 11 years.

“What’s so ironic is that Scott and David were partners in our department before Scott passed away,” Rowe noted. “After we received our new K-9, we decided to name him in memory of Scott. Now the Griffith-Jager team is together once again and serving the citizens of our great town as well as those who are paying us a visit.”