Two unrelated traffic stops lead to felony drug arrests in Washington County over the weekend.
On Saturday, January 20th, deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop near Corbin Road and Orange Hill Road. A brief check of the license plate revealed the registration on the vehicle was expired but the decal sticker was valid. Deputies make contact with the occupants of the vehicle. The driver, 54-year-old, James Gordon Douglas, of Marianna, FL stated that he was borrowing the vehicle from a friend. The passenger of the vehicle was displaying signs of nervousness and would not make eye contact with deputies during questioning.
A department issued K-9 was deployed and resulted in a positive alert to narcotics inside the vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle were asked to exit but did not comply. Douglas locked the door and stated loudly he was not getting out. Douglas was observed reaching for something and pressing the brakes as if he was about to speed off. After several attempts, deputies successfully gain entry into the vehicle and attempt to detain Douglas. Douglas continued pulling away and reaching for his waistband. Once Douglas was detained, a search of his person revealed a knife in his waistband.
A probable cause search of the vehicle resulted in deputies locating a small brown and black purse with two clear smoking devices located inside and a crystalized substance which later field tested positive for methamphetamine.
Douglas was arrested and transported to the Washington County Jail on charges of possession of methamphetamine, resisting arrest with violence, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and possession of drug paraphernalia.
In a separate traffic stop, a 58-year-old, Vernon, FL woman was arrested early this morning after deputies located methamphetamine and paraphernalia during the stop.
Just after 1 a.m., a Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped a red sport car on Spoolmill Rd. in Vernon.
The driver, identified as Karen Lynn Suggs, was arrested, and transported to the Washington County Jail after a department issued K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. A subsequent search was conducted, and Suggs was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia that were located inside the vehicle.
