Last Thursday, Deputy Steven Richardson of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department was patrolling Westel Road around 9 p.m. and noticed a gold-colored 1996 Ford leaving the GreenWave gas station.
The vehicle noticed Richardson’s patrol car and stopped abruptly. Behind the vehicle, Richardson noticed the vehicle continually slamming on its brakes, maintaining a speed between 30 and 35 miles per hour, and crossing the fog line approximately ten times.
In his report, Richardson said, “Based on my training and experience, drivers who see me in their rearview mirrors are constantly crossing the fog line.”
Richardson asked the deputy city councilor for help and eventually conducted a stop in Rockwood off Highway 70, where he identified the driver as Raylee Hawkins and his passenger Jared Smith.
Richardson noticed that the driver was breathing rapidly and talked a lot about her “travel plans.” When asked why she crossed the fog line so many times, Hawkins said her vehicle had different size tires and problems with the stabilizer bar. She also admitted that her vehicle was not insured.
Richardson asked Hawkins to get out of her car so he could give her a ticket, but had to repeatedly ask her to get out because Hawkins was suffering from an “audio blackout.”
While writing tickets, Hawkins talked about wanting to set up a “chariot service,” crossing her arms and looking back at her vehicle. Richardson asked her if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, and Hawkins said no, while also refusing to consent to a search of her vehicle.
Before the officer and his sniffer dog could search the vehicle, she admitted there was a “cockroach” in the vehicle. Richardson said he saw that she was panicking, her voice was shaking and she was breathing rapidly.
The deputy asked about specific drugs and whether they were in her vehicle. Hawkins denied all of those drugs, but paused before answering about cocaine and turned away when asked about paraphernalia such as pipes, scales, and bags.
Richardson found a handbag with 20 bags and a black magnet on the passenger side floor.
Box containing two bags of a white powdery substance weighing approximately 13.07 grams, presumably
Cocaine, as well as a working scale and small straws with residue in them.
Richardson said he was convinced Hawkins was involved in the trafficking of illegal narcotics.
After Hawkins was read her Miranda warning, her passenger, Jared Smith, denied knowing there were narcotics in the vehicle. Hawkins was arrested and transported to the Cumberland County Jail by the deputy alderman without incident.
