THP Interdiction Trooper Discovers Large Quantity of Prescription Pills on Traffic Stop; Arrests Ohio Woman on Felony Drug Charges
NASHVILLE--- Trooper Jonathan Scott of the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s East Bureau Interdiction Plus team initiated a traffic stop that led to the discovery of approximately 600 prescription pills and the arrest of an Ohio woman on felony drug charges in Knox County on Wednesday.
Trooper Scott stopped a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee for a traffic violation on Interstate 75 southbound in Knox County at approximately 2:12 p.m. on Wednesday. The vehicle was occupied by a male driver and female passenger, who shared conflicting stories regarding their travel destinations.
Further questioning raised the suspicions of the investigating trooper, and he requested and received consent to search the vehicle. THP Interdiction Plus Sergeant Greg Roberts arrived on the scene to assist.
The troopers then found throughout the vehicle a total of approximately 600 prescription pills in the passenger’s name, multiple identification cards from different states and medical documentation from doctor’s offices and emergency rooms from various states. Trooper Scott also discovered a bottle of urine commonly used to falsify a drug screen under the passenger’s seat.
Charlene Smith, 48, of Pleasant Plain, Oh., the passenger and owner of the vehicle, was arrested and charged with felony possession of schedule II drugs with the intent to sell and deliver and felony possession of schedule IV drugs with the intent to sell and deliver. Smith was also found to have had 13 Oxycodone and two Xanax pills, neither prescribed to her, on her person.
She was transported to the Knox County jail without incident.
The driver, of Hoskinson, Ky., was issued a warning for traffic violations and released to continue his travels.
Booking photos may be obtained from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee.