Rossville man arrested during traffic stop
Featured Stories December 8, 2022
Catoosa County – According to Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office incident report, On November 12th, 2022, at 2:25 AM, Deputy Weaver was sitting stationary running LIDAR on the off-ramp of Exit 345 Southbound when he observed a vehicle traveling at 99mph in a 70mph zone.
According to the report, “Deputy Weaver observed the vehicle making sporadic lane changes, without using a turn signal, and failing to maintain lane by swerving into the middle lane numerous times and then jerking it back into the vehicle’s original lane of travel. The vehicle passed Deputy Weaver at 99mph and did not apply the brakes.
Deputy Weaver pulled out behind the vehicle. Deputy Weaver observed the vehicle hit the fog line numerous times.” Deputy Weaver initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver Preston Ben Dworkin, 26, of Rossville.
As Deputy Weaver was walking up to the vehicle, he noticed the driver spraying on cologne and throwing numerous bags into the back of the van. According to the report, “Deputy Weaver stated, “Good morning I’m Deputy Weaver with the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office. Do you know why I pulled you over?” The driver stared at Deputy Weaver with blankly stare and stated, “Idk”. Deputy Weaver asked the driver how fast he thought he was going.
The driver stated, “I had it locked on 75″. Deputy Weaver informed the driver he checked him at 99mph, and when he passed him, he maintained that speed. The driver said there was no way he was going that fast.” Deputy Weaver informed Dworkin he smelt the odor of alcohol. The driver said there was no way he hadn’t had anything to drink tonight, run all the tests you want”.
Deputy Weaver then located six empty bottles of Bud Light. Deputy Weaver asked Dworkin again how much he had to drink, and the complainant stated he only had two bud lights. Deputy Kuzma assisted with field sobriety testing on Dworkin and observed several clues of impairment and a BAC of .097 on a PBT.
Dworkin was then placed under arrest for DUI and refused the state test. Dworkin was transported to the Catoosa County Jail and charged with DUI, speeding, and failure to maintain a single lane.
A pound and a half of Meth found in single car traffic stop
Featured News, Featured Stories, News September 21, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga. – The Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement on social media today reporting a single traffic stop. A normal traffic stop is nothing of import except that this stop resulted in the seizure of 1.69 pounds of methamphetamine.
Corporal Parks of the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office arrested two on September 9, 2021, after finding 1.69 pounds of methamphetamine in the vehicle of a traffic stop.
For reference, federal guidelines referencing the United States Sentencing Commission dictate a minimum sentence of 10 years for trafficking in 50 grams of Meth. According to the Sheriff’s report, the driver of the vehicle, Ethan Matthew Leonard, 17, and passenger, Anthony Stephen Ray, 20, were in possession of over 15 times that amount.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, “Corporal F. Parks initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for failure to maintain lane and a window tint violation. Upon contact with the occupants in the car, Corporal Parks determined the driver was under the influence of marijuana.”
The United States Department of Justice states that Crystal Methamphetamine is a Schedule II substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule II drugs, which include cocaine and PCP, have a high potential for abuse. Gilmer Sheriff Stacy Nicholson has also offered reports on the influx of and arrests made in relation to large amounts of drugs in the county. In July of 2021, he delivered a report to the media indicating a number of arrests made in the first half of the year.
A bag of of 1.69 pounds of methamphetamine was seized along with THC oil in a traffic stop, resulting in charges including intent to distribute.
Going from what information the Sheriff’s Office delivered in those arrests, only one comes close. A July 19, 2021, arrest for 628 grams (1.38 pounds) of Meth.
With this arrest, it becomes the largest amount out of those released to the public. The Sheriff’s Office stated that when Parks questioned the two in the vehicle, both occupants had conflicting stories and timelines of their travels.
The office stated, “The passenger provided Corporal Parks with a THC oil vape which gave probable cause to search the vehicle. During the search, approximately 763 grams (1.69 pounds) of methamphetamine was located under the back seat.”
Arrested on September 9, 2021, Ethan Matthew Leonard and Anthony Stephen Ray, both from Franklin, North Carolina, were arrested and charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Schedule 1 Drug (THC oil), and Georgia window tint violation.