3 Arrested After OCPD Finds Toxic Substance And Drugs During Traffic Stop

Three people were caught with a highly toxic and dangerous substance in their car during a traffic stop this week.

Oklahoma City police had to call the fire department's hazmat crew to clear out the unusual substance. One of the suspects told an officer he used the liquid mercury to extract gold from computers, according to court documents.

The officer made a traffic stop near Northwest 10th Street and Blackwelder Avenue early Tuesday morning. Police said Kenneth Rankin, 49, was driving and his two passengers were 44-year-old Julie Whiteley and 28-year-old Alexah Bonds.

“The stories they were telling did not make much sense,” said Msgt. Gary Knight, Oklahoma City Police Department.

Additional officers were called out to search the suspects and the car. Police noted in an arrest report they found syringes loaded with what appeared to be methamphetamines and a vial containing Mercury. Some of the liquid spilled out when an officer opened the lid.

“Mercury is a toxic substance, so we notified the fire department’s hazmat unit, and they came out and took care of the Mercury side of the call,” said Knight.

According to an affidavit, Rankin told the officer the Mercury was his and he got it from a neighbor the day before.

“It’s very rare for us to come across liquid Mercury, especially over a pound of it,” said Knight. “And a pound is where it becomes illegal.”

Officers also found drugs and paraphernalia in both women’s purses. All three people were arrested and booked into jail on various criminal felony and misdemeanor complaints.

Rankin faces one complaint of possessing Mercury and several drug-related complaints.