Not Using Directional Leads to Drug, Alcohol Charges for Teen

CONCORD, NH – A local teen was in court this week facing a slew of charges after a traffic stop on I-393 that led to an arrest, according to police.

Jade E. Markham, 18, of Bridge Street in Pittsfield, was arrested at 2:08 a.m. on May 6, 2016, and charged with possession of drugs, possession of controlled drugs-marijuana, unlawful possession of alcohol, and transportation of alcohol.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

An officer on North Main Street reportedly was following a Pontiac and while doing so, alleged that the vehicle didn’t use a directional signal while in the right-hand-only turn lane or when turning onto I-393.

• Sign up for news alerts from local New Hampshire Patch sites.

The vehicle was pulled over on the eastbound side of the Interstate near Exit 2 and when the officer approached the vehicle, immediately “noticed the smell of freshly burned marijuana coming from the interior of the vehicle” while the air conditioner was on “full blast” with “plug-in” air fresheners, according to the report.

The driver – Markham – had a youth operator license, reportedly stated they were coming from the hookah lounge on Pleasant Street Extension, but denied drinking, according to the arrest report. When asked about the marijuana smell, she reportedly stated she had given multiple people rides home and denied smoking marijuana.

When asked if there was a pipe in the car, Markham allegedly took one out of the center console and blamed it on a relative that she alleged was a heroin addict. The officer also reportedly saw an empty baggie in the console and requested to see it. He later requested a consent search and after some back and forth about a possible search warrant or K-9 unit being called in, she reportedly agreed to allow the vehicle to be search.

The officer allegedly found a second plastic bag with a minute amount of marijuana. In the trunk, he allegedly found a large glass smoking device, another plastic bag with marijuana, and a bottle of peppermint schnapps. Markham allegedly stated that the smoking device belonged to a second relative, according to the report.

Markham was then arrested, released on personal recognizance bail, and arraigned on June 13.