PORTERDALE, Ga. – Porterdale police arrested two people on drug charges Monday evening after a traffic stop for a cracked windshield uncovered the drugs and drug paraphernalia.
According to the PPD incident report, Officer Matt Munger stopped the gray 1991 GMC Jimmy just before 9 p.m. on Georgia 81 at the Georgia 162 Connector because of the damaged windshield. As he approached the vehicle on the passenger side, he reportedly observed both the driver and the passenger moving around inside the vehicle.
While speaking with the vehicle’s driver, identified as 23-year-old Erin Shumate, of Rutledge, and the passenger, identified as 39-year-old Rodney Singley, of Covington, Munger reportedly saw Singley could not sit still, had multiple facial expressions and dilated eyes.
Cpl. Charles Cook arrived at the location and monitored Singley while Munger spoke with Shumate. According to the report, when told Singley appeared to be under the influence of narcotics, Shumate said he had been acting that way since she picked him up.
She also said there was nothing in the car that would get her in trouble and denied police permission to search it.
Because of Singley’s behavior, Munger requested the Newton County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit to respond to the scene and conduct a free air search around the car. While Munger was running both occupants’ licenses, Singley reportedly told Cook there might be a needle and meth-smoking pipe in the vehicle.
According to the report, when Deputy Mark Sanzo of the K-9 unit arrived at the scene and conducted the free air search around the vehicle, the K-9 alerted on the driver’s door area and the passenger door area.
Due to the positive K-9 alerts, police searched the vehicle. During the search, they reportedly located a glass pipe with an amount of methamphetamine inside, and a hypodermic needle in a black case between the driver seat and passenger seat. A second smoking pipe was reportedly located in Shumate’s clothing when she was searched. A second needle and multiple empty baggies were found in Shumate’s purse.
Shumate and Singley were arrested and transported to the Newton County Jail, charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug-related objects. Shumate also was charged for the cracked windshield.
