Expired Tag Stop Ends With Drug Possession Charge

A Woodbury woman was charged with drug possession on Dec. 17 after he vehicle was stopped for having expired tags.

Cannon County Sheriff’s Detective Matt Goney conducted a traffic stop of a 1994 green Ford Ranger bearing an expired (12/8/2010) temporary tag on Dec. 17 at the intersection of Parker Road and Lewis Road. The vehicle also had the tag improperly displayed. The vehicle took a short distance to pull over.

As Det. Goney approached the vehicle the driver, Amanda Rhea Hollis, 122 Meadowbrook Dr., Woodbury, was making furtive movements as if she was trying to hide something.

While speaking to Hollis through the window, Det. Goney observed that she was chewing on something. She had some yellow colored saliva secreting down the side of her mouth. Det. Goney asked Hollis what she was chewing on and she said nothing.

Hollis began reaching toward the floorboard at which time Det. Goney opened the door to find her reaching for a small yellow tablet. Det. Goney grabbed the tablet and had Hollis exit the vehicle. Hollis was jumping around very nervously as if she was wanting to get back into the truck.

Det. Goney also had the passenger, Buddy Davis, exit the vehicle. Det. Goney called Davis by his name and Davis became belligerent, stating, “you don’t know me” and “he thinks he knows me.”

Det. Goney asked Hollis to empty her pockets and she produced two of the same yellow tablets out of her from left pocket. Det. Goney observed one pill in her open front right pocket. As Det. Goney walked up to the vehicle, he observed what appeared to be a small marijuana bud lying right beside the driver’s seat. A search was conducted of the vehicle and no other illegal items were found.

Hollis admitted to eating one of the tablets and then attempting to eat two. The tablets were yellow in color and labeled Watson 853 which is believed to be Hydrocodone. Hollis was unable to provide any documentation showing that she is the prescribed owner of the tablets.

She was issued a citation for possession of a Schedule III drug and given warning tickets for expired tags and improper display. The tablets were seized as evidence. Initial court date is Feb. 1.