Officer finds suspected drugs during traffic stop, driver jailed

A Douglas police officer arrested a 56-year-old Douglas man on drug charges following an incident that began at the Circle K on East Baker Highway. 

The officer reported that he was sitting at the old gas station adjacent to the Circle K around 1 a.m. on May 2, 2023. While he was there, he noticed a white 1992 Jeep Cherokee at one of the gas pumps at the Circle K. Timothy McClelland, 56, was standing at the pumps talking with several people. The incident report states that McClelland kept looking at the officer across the street.

According to the report, they stayed at the pumps for about 30 minutes but no one ever pumped any gas. McClelland and the others eventually left in two separate vehicles. The report says that the Cherokee went under the light at East Baker Highway, the light was red. Another officer was on the scene as well; both officers initiated traffic stops on the vehicles that were sitting at the gas pumps.

The officer who stopped McClelland reported that during the stop, he could smell burnt marijuana. The report states that McClelland denied that the light was red when he went under it. However, he admitted that he had marijuana and some pills in the vehicle. The officer reported that he found a joint as well as Alprazolam and Xanax. McClelland was also a convicted felon who was on probation. 

McClelland was arrested and charged with possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance and possession of a drug-related object. He remains in the Coffee County Jail.