Smithville Man Charged

On Friday, July 21 at approximately 12:02 a.m., Deputy Austin Moore stopped a vehicle near La Grange. The vehicle continued traveling for an extended period of time and Moore observed several criminal indicators during the time the vehicle was not stopping. The vehicle eventually came to a stop and after detaining both occupants of the vehicle a probable cause search was initiated.

After a subsequent investigation, inside of the vehicle, Moore located drug paraphernalia and two bags of methamphetamine that would be discovered to be a second degree felony amount of meth. The driver, James Copeland, 43 of Smithville, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. He was transported to the jail and released to jail staff without further incident. Moore was assisted by Deputy C. Ceder on the traffic stop.