Meth, Hundreds Of Pills Seized During Traffic Stop

ADAIRSVILLE, GA — Two people were arrested early Wednesday in what Adairsville police are describing as one of the largest drug busts in its history.

Officers with the Police Department conducted a traffic stop around 2:05 a.m. April 18 on a vehicle for a busted windshield after the car was seen parked at two establishments. Officers conducting business patrols first spotted the vehicle stopped in front of a gas pump at Patty's Truck Stop for about an hour. The same vehicle was seen parked at QuikTrip at 961 Highway 140 NW.

After patrolling the truck parking lot at the QT, an officer saw the vehicle leave the convenience store and enter S.R. 140 westbound. The officer initiated the traffic stop and the car pulled into the McDonald's parking lot just west of Interstate 75.

The officer approached the vehicle and told the driver, identified as 39-year-old Adam Hall of Calhoun, why he was being pulled over. Officers ran Hall's named through the statewide system, which returned a notification that the driver was wanted for parole violation, the agency said. Hall was placed under arrest for the active warrant.

While speaking with the passenger and vehicle owner, Shannia Elizabeth Lau, 36, also of Calhoun, officers asked to search for the vehicle. Lau allegedly refused to provide consent, so the Calhoun Police Department's K-9 Unit was called in to help in the investigation.

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The police canine arrived on the scene, performed a free-air sniff of the car and "alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle," Adairsville police said in its press release. A search of the vehicle unearthed a camouflage backpack in the back seat within arms reach of both occupants.

The backpack was searched, and officers found more than 2-and-a-half pounds of methamphetamine in plastic containers and plastic bags, more than four ounces of marijuana, several hundred Schedule I, II, III and IV pills, several digital scales, glass smoking pipes and more than $8,000 in cash.

Lau was also arrested, and both were transported to the Bartow County Jail. Hall is charged with starburst windshield and expired driver’s license.

Police have also charged both Hall and Lau with trafficking meth, possession with intent to distribute meth, possession of meth, possession of marijuana more than an ounce, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, possession of Schedule II controlled substance, possession of Schedule III controlled substance and possession of Schedule IV controlled substances, all of which are felony charges.

"This is one of the largest methamphetamine seizures in Adairsville history," the police department added. "We would like to extend our appreciation to Calhoun P.D. for assisting us with the help of their K-9 officer. It is always beneficial when agencies have a good working relationship that can help each other in getting drugs off of our streets and out of our community."

Photo: from left to right are Adairsville officers Michael Hooks, Carl Martin and Sgt. Justin Skidmore. Credit: Adairsville Police Department