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Multiple drug arrests made in traffic stop
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A weaving car led Covington Police officers to arrest four suspects, including a wanted man, on multiple drug charges in two related cases last week.

Comments made to police by Megan Foster led to the arrest of her boyfriend, John Johnson, on charges of possession of cocaine after he allegedly stole her cell phone.

The incident began when Officer Michael Brown was patrolling Alcovy Road where he observed a blue Pontiac Sunfire weaving from the outside lane to the inside lane.

Brown pulled the car over and made contact with the driver, Foster. After being asked, Foster denied she had been drinking. She said she was looking for her boyfriend who had stolen her cell phone.

During the exchange, Brown noticed a black purse in the car's console which had two packs of Marlboro cigarettes and a pack of rolling papers protruding from it.

In the incident report, Brown noted the rolling papers were probably not for tobacco related use considering the presence of other cigarettes.

Brown then spoke to the passenger, Ashlee Harris. While he was speaking with Harris, Brown noticed the pack of rolling papers were no longer visible. Harris, who could not provide any identification, reportedly appeared confused and had difficulty following the conversation. She also had bloodshot eyes with very dilated pupils which responded slowly to light.

Brown then asked for consent to search the car, which was given. The officer first retrieved the purse which contained the rolling papers and took it to the back of the car.

Officer Doug Allen, who had just arrived on scene, noticed Harris adjusting the rear of her shorts and appeared to have reached up her short's leg. Allen asked Harris what she was doing and she responded that her thong was giving her a wedgie.

Allen advised Harris that her statement did not make sense and that he was going to call in a female police officer. Harris then reportedly reached into her shorts and removed a baggie containing suspected marijuana and a baggie containing six suspected Xanax pills.

Harris was placed into custody for possession of marijuana less than one ounce, possession of a schedule III drug and prescription drugs not in original container.

The driver, Foster, then began to talk about her boyfriend stealing her phone. She stated her boyfriend, Johnson, was a wanted man. A check of the Georgia Crime Information Center revealed Johnson had a warrant for burglary out of Walton County.

Foster and Harris both said Johnson had an "eight ball" of cocaine with him. When asked what he was traveling in, Foster said he was riding in a newer model sliver car with a sunroof and that there was another white male and female with him.

Foster was issued a citation for failure to signal when changing lanes and was released from the scene.

An hour later, while in the parking lot of Covington Corners, Brown and Officer Brent Fuesting were monitoring the traffic on US Highway 278 and Alcovy Road when they spotted a silver sedan with a sunroof and two males and a female inside.

In separate patrol cars, Fuesting and Brown began to follow the silver car. The driver of the vehicle passed the first entrance to Newton Plaza before making an abrupt right turn into the plaza at the traffic light.

Over the radio, Fuesting advised Brown that an object had been discarded from the passenger window. Brown stopped to retrieve the item while Fuesting initiated a traffic stop. A white piece of tissue containing suspected cocaine was located by Brown on the ground near the curb.

The vehicle had failed to stop for Fuesting, but instead was moving very slowly through the gas pump area. Due to the circumstances, Brown drew his firearm and ordered the driver to stop and for all occupants to display their hands. The car came to a stop and Christina Giles, Sonnie Dotson and Johnson were placed into investigative detention.

Johnson was placed in the rear of Fuesting's patrol car and was read his Miranda Rights. He agreed to speak with Brown and reportedly told the officer the front passenger, Dotson, had thrown the cocaine into the backseat when they had turned into the plaza. Johnson admitted he had used cocaine earlier, but the drugs found were not his. He also advised Giles had no knowledge of the cocaine.

After hearing her Miranda Rights, Giles confirmed she did not know about the drugs. Giles reportedly said she had picked up Johnson and Dotson earlier from a hotel on Alcovy Road because Johnson and his girlfriend had gotten into an argument.

Dotson told Brown a different story. He reportedly said he had been with Johnson all day and that Johnson had bought the cocaine while he bought some liquor.

Since no one claimed the drugs and all occupants had the ability to discard them from the car, all three suspects were arrested for possession of cocaine and abandonment of dangerous drugs. Giles, Dotson, Johnson and Harris were all transported to the Newton County Detention Center.