A traffic stop that took place on March 3, 2025, just before 2 a.m. resulted in the arrest of an individual who had items in her vehicle that officers suspected were going to be given to inmates.
According to an incident report from the sheriff’s office, a deputy was assisting another officer on a traffic stop on the 206 Connector on the above date when a vehicle pulled into a driveway before getting to the scene of the traffic stop. The report states that the officer believed the driver of the vehicle was attempting to avoid riding by the traffic stop.
The deputy left the scene, driving west on the Connector. As the deputy passed the house in which the vehicle had turned into, the vehicle pulled out and began traveling west as well. The deputy pulled over and allowed the vehicle to pass. They traveled a short distance to a convenience store that was closed. The vehicle pulled into the store, according to the report. The officer turned in as well and activated his blue lights.
The officer spoke with the driver, identified as Virginia Smith, 58, of Douglas. She said she stopped because she was feeling sick. The officer could smell marijuana and asked her if she had anything illegal in the vehicle, the report says. Smith gave the officer consent to search her vehicle and the officer discovered 28 clear vacuum sealed packages that contained tobacco. Some of the packages contained other items inside the packages that were covered by tobacco. He found a pack of men’s underwear, drone propellers, a drone battery, and a charger for drone batteries. The report says that these packages are consistent with those used to sneak contraband inside prisons.
The officer contacted an official with the Georgia Department of Corrections who went to the Coffee County Jail to meet with Smith. The officer arrested Smith and transported her to the jail. She was charged with giving to or possessing by inmates prohibited items. Smith was later released on $5,500 bond.