Routine Traffic Stop Leads to Felony Arrest

On Christmas Eve, officers pulled over a suspect for driving with a suspended license near Skyland Drive and Rockdale Circle. 

The officer informed the driver, Shannon Smith, that he was under arrest for driving with a suspended license and proceeded to search him once backup arrived. During the search, officers uncovered a syringe, two prescription bottles with various pills, a pocket knife, and lighter in his right pocket. In his left bottle were two more pill bottles. Two of the pills were identified as Alprazalam and Aderal. 

None of the bottles had Smith's name on them. 

When officers proceeded to search the car, they found a black plastic "pill grinder" with white powder residue inside in the center console, a black zippered bag containing a loaded and chambered Bersa Thunder .380 pistol, a syringe, a prescription bottles containing pills, and a spoon with white residue located near the driver's seat.

Two prescription bottles containing various pills were found in the center dash compartment. 

Smith was charged with one felony count possession of VSCSA Schedule II drugs, one felony count possession of VGCSA schedule IV drugs, one felony count possession of firearm in a commission of crime (drugs), one misdemeanor count of possession of drug related objects and one misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended Georgia driver's license.