SCSO Announces Drug Arrests

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said two separate traffic stops earlier this month resulted in two drug arrests.

Shirley said his office’s Crime Suppression Unit conducted both traffic stops.

The first one was on December 8.

According to the sheriff, deputies pulled over a silver Isuzu Rodeo for an invalid vehicle tag.

Shirley said a passenger in the vehicle, 38-year-old Michael Anthony Taylor of Riverside Drive in Cleveland, did not have any proof of identification and gave deputies a wrong name.

“Deputies were interviewing the driver and receiving information from her that the passenger’s name was actually Michael Anthony Taylor,” said Shirley, who added the driver told deputies Taylor had a pistol.

“Deputies patted Taylor down for safety precautions,” said Shirley. “During this, deputies discovered and seized a quantity of methamphetamine. The pistol, a Glock semi auto .40 caliber, was recovered from underneath the front passenger seat where Taylor was sitting during the time of the stop. It was later discovered that the pistol was reported as stolen from a residence in White County.”

Taylor was arrested and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

At last report, he remained in the Stephens County Jail on a $20,000 bond.

Meanwhile, deputies performed a second traffic stop on December 10.

The sheriff said in that stop, they pulled over a white Ford F150 driven by 42-year-old Tony Owen Norris of Stoneridge Drive in Eastanollee for failing to maintain his lane while traveling on Davis Road.

“During their conversation, deputies smelled the aroma of marijuana emanating from within Norris’ vehicle,” said Shirley. “Norris gave deputies consent to search his vehicle. During the search, deputies located and seized a quantity of methamphetamine and marijuana.”

Shirley said Norris was arrested and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Failure to Maintain Lane, Operation of a Vehicle with Expired Plate and Use of License Plate for Concealing or Misrepresenting Identity of Vehicle.

Norris was released on a $7,000 bond.