By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Two recent traffic stops by Atmore police, along with a response to a domestic complaint, have resulted in the arrests of a Florida woman, an Atmore woman and an Atmore man on felony drug possession charges.
The first of the arrests occurred around 9:30 a.m., February 24, when an officer saw a vehicle make an unsafe lane change. According to police reports, the officer pulled the car over and eventually asked the driver, Karen Nelson, 52, of Pensacola, for consent to search the vehicle. Such consent apparently was granted.
During the search an unspecified amount of a green, leafy substance that field-tested positive for marijuana was discovered. Also discovered were an unspecified quantity of a white, crystal-like substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine, and a wooden smoking pipe that had a white residue in it that also field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
Nelson was charged with one count each of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and second-degree possession of marijuana.
She was released from the Escambia County Detention Center February 27 on $5,000 bond.
Expired tag
A 60-year-old Atmore woman was arrested March 5 by Atmore police after her vehicle was pulled over for a traffic violation.
Police reports show that around 5:35 p.m., an officer on routine patrol saw a vehicle in front of him with an expired license plate. The car was pulled over and the policeman was questioning the driver, Rebecca Denais, when he “observed a brown cigar on the console that contained a brown leafy substance believed to be synthetic cannabis (Spice).”
When Denais exited the vehicle, the officer retrieved the brown cigar and also discovered a digital scale and a container with more brown cigars containing the same substance.
A female officer who was sent from a neighboring agency to search Denais recovered inside a container a clear, crystal-like substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Also in the container was approximately 1.5 grams of synthetic cannabis.
Denais was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center, where she remained early Tuesday, March 7.
Kratom, fake urine
A 28-year-old Atmore man was arrested March 5 on several drug-related charges after police responded to an argument at a local residence.
According to police reports, officers were sent around 11:05 p.m. to a residence on Old Bratt Road, where an argument was taking place.
Police arrived and were informed that Bradley Baker “was under the influence of something and was punching holes in the walls.”
Baker was located in his bedroom and taken him into custody. Inside the room was discovered 115 Kratom pills, four marijuana grinders, an unspecified quantity of artificial urine to defeat drug tests, two pipes used to ingest marijuana, a used needle, a bong, and sockets that he was using to ingest narcotics.
Baker reportedly broke several items in the room and punched several holes in the walls.
He is charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and third-degree criminal mischief.
He was processed into the Escambia County Detention Center, where he remained early Tuesday, March 7.