Wrong tag on vehicle leads to traffic stop, cocaine arrest

Joseph James Miller, 42, of Douglas, was recently arrested after he admitted to being in possession of an illegal substance he identified as molly. However, detectives with the Coffee County Drug Unit tested the drugs, which showed a positive result for cocaine. 

An incident report states that on January 21, detectives with the unit were conducting "proactive narcotics patrol" in the area of Highway 221 North when they noticed a Nissan Sentra fail to maintain its lane while traveling south on the highway.A detective ran the Sentra's tag number through the Georgia Crime Information Center, with the vehicle's tag returning to a black Chevy truck. The officer stopped the Sentra at the intersection of Highway 32 and Bowens Mill Road, where detectives identified the driver as Miller.

During the stop, Miller reportedly gave detectives consent to search the vehicle, which led to the discovery of a quantity of suspected crack cocaine and a 9mm handgun on Miller.According to the report, Miller identified the substance as molly (MDMA). However, detectives conducted a field test on the suspected narcotics, which showed they were likely cocaine.

Miller was charged with possession of cocaine and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He has since been released on a $3,000 property bond.