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ALBANY, GA. -- A Wednesday morning routine traffic stop has led to a drug bust on Newman Street.

During the traffic stop around 11:30 a.m., Dougherty County Police Department noticed a smell coming from the 1997 Buick Lesabre that Walter James Chatman Jr., 31, was driving.

When they spotted a large bag on the floorboard of the car, they asked the driver to exit the vehicle.

That’s when Chatman took off, leading police on a brief chase.

While trying to get away, the man threw the bag filled with one pound of marijuana out of his window.

Police say the suspect drove into a dead end street where he was stopped and arrested.

The Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit was called in to assist with the case.

“He's charged with violation of the Georgia substance act, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, tampering with evidence, a tent violation on his vehicle, attempting to allude and failure to stop at a stop sign,” said Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit Major Bill Berry.

Major Berry says the estimated street value of the drugs recovered from the bust is just below $5,000.

Chatman has been booked into the Dougherty County Jail where he awaits a hearing on Thursday morning.